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Grande cole (film)

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Wikipedia article




'Grande cole' is a 2004 French erotic drama film directed by , based on the stage play 'The Best of Schools' by Jean-Marie Besset.B. Forshaw Nick Rees-Roberts The film is about education, class, race and homosexuality.Vinay Swamy

It was cited as an early example of casting Arab men as gays compared to heterosexual white men in French films,Mehammed Amadeus Mack Salim Kechiouche as 'Mecir'.

Plot



Paul is an upper-class young man who is about to start at a 'grande cole', one of the system of mostly public colleges to which students are admitted based on a highly competitive process and whose graduates often gain prestigious employment. He has chosen to live with two new roommates instead of his girlfriend Agns.

As a result, with his studies, he has little time to see her. Agns perceives cracks in their relationship when she suspects Paul's attraction to one of his new roommates, the aristocratic Louis-Arnault. Paul denies any homosexual attraction, but Agns decides to make a bet with him: whichever of them beds Louis-Arnault first, wins. If she does, Paul must stop exploring his sexuality; if he does, she will leave him.

Before the bet plays out, Paul meets Mcir, a young Arab worker, who becomes besotted with him. With Mcir, Paul goes on a journey of discovery that changes many of his ideas about class, cultural differences and sexuality.

Cast



* as Paul

* Alice Taglioni as Agns

* Jocelyn Quivrin as Louis-Arnault

* lodie Navarre as Emeline

* Arthur Jugnot as Chouquet

* Salim Kechiouche as Mcir

* va Darlan as Mrs Chouquet

* Yasmine Belmadi as worker in flashback

* Arnaud Binard as water polo trainer

Reception



The film won the IFFR Audience Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.

'Grande cole' has received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes 3 reviews are listed, 2 positive, 1 negative.

Nick Jones of eyeforfilm.co stated, "rather than focusing on the central, emotional aspect of the story Paul coming to terms with his sexuality Salis tries to cover other issues in too much detail" and "you are left feeling short-changed by a script that conveniently ignores certain issues and abandons characters for its own means".

Pierre Murat from telerama.fr said, "Robert Salis films rather well desire, first unconscious and then assumed", but "he films the pleasure less well" and "the actors do not lack courage, especially Jocelyn Quivrin".

Barry Forshaw in 2015 called it "powerful and moving drama" and "an passionate and erotic film".

It is mentioned in 'Vitamin Q' book by Jim Brogan in 2014, "beautiful, naked men, particularly in the showers of a local water polo club".Jim Brogan

References




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