Television - Between sadness and the longing for freedom: 'The Gymnasiast'
The television program of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB) will show for the seventh time in the summer of 2024 a "film series beyond the hetero-norm". The whole thing is called "RBB queer". Those who identify as Non-Heterosexuals or people who do not identify with societal norms around gender and sex are referred to as "queer".
One highlight within the RBB series is this Thursday the German premiere of the French coming-of-age film "The Gymnasiast" (11:35 pm).
The film by Christophe Honoré (Original title: "Le Lycéen") takes place in the French Alps and Paris. Newcomer Paul Kircher plays the leading role, for which he won the award for best actor at the San Sebastian Film Festival in 2022. Juliette Binoche plays his mother, Vincent Lacoste his older brother. Honoré himself appears briefly as the father.
The 17-year-old Lucas, who goes around with his friend Oscar but doesn't see the big love in it, has an accident with his father at the beginning. It seems like a bad omen, because shortly afterwards, Lucas' father dies behind the wheel of his car.
Waves of Anger and Grief
The film impressively shows the waves of anger and grief that deep wounds caused by a death can inflict. Mother Isabelle, the artist-brother Quentin living in Paris, and other relatives - all have their own way of dealing with the loss.
To distract himself, Lucas visits his brother in Paris, with whom he has a relationship between aggression and tenderness, distance and closeness. He begins to take an interest in Quentin's roommate Lilio (Erwan Kepoa Falé). In a church, Lucas talks to a priest about the resurrection of Jesus, but he also has an anonymous date via a dating app.
Director Honoré once again shows with this work how much of a master he is of melancholic films. "The Gymnasiast" is probably his most personal film, as he himself lost his father as a teenager in an accident.
Honoré (54) has already created some radical films, including the musical tragicomedy "Love Songs" (2007), a bisexual relationship ring with a death.
In "The Lovers - from the burden of being happy" (2011), Catherine Deneuve and her (real) daughter Chiara Mastroianni went through love tangles in several decades. And in "Sorry Angel" (2018), a gay love story in the AIDS crisis of the 1990s was told - without a happy ending.
Music is an integral part of the plot
Music is always significant to Honoré: It is listened to together or also played for oneself. When Isabelle and her sons are looking for a song for the funeral and come across "Electricity" by OMD, there is a glimmer of hope that it could be beautiful again. Later, the depressive and suicidal Lucas hears a too fast song during sex with his friend. It fits better.
By the way, RBB is not the only ARD broadcaster to focus on queer films in the summer program. Since 2022, the Bavarian Broadcasting (BR) has also had a similar series. The West German Broadcasting (WDR) joined in last year.
In the ARD media library, the films were particularly successful. They were called up more than 2.6 million times in 2023, according to the involved broadcasters a few weeks ago.
This year, the ARD channel One has also started "One queer" in the program. It shows, among other things, on August 3 the British classic gay film "Maurice" from 1987 (Regie: James Ivory), in which the young Hugh Grant shines together with James Wilby.
- The RBB series "RBB queer" highlights films that challenge heteronormative narratives, screening for the seventh time in 2024.
- One film in the series this summer is the German premiere of "The Gymnasiast," a French coming-of-age drama about a teenager named Lucas.
- The film, directed by Christophe Honore, explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, featuring prominent actors like Juliette Binoche and Vincent Lacoste.
- Honore draws on his own experiences, as he lost his father in a similar manner during his teenage years, impacting the emotional depth of the film.
- The narrative follows Lucas' journey to Berlin and Paris to cope with his father's death, where he encounters a new love interest named Lilio.
- The film opens with Lucas' brother Oscar, portrayed by Vincent Lacoste, who has a complex relationship with Lucas, characterized by both tenderness and aggression.
- RBB is not alone in its focus on queer films; both the Bavarian Broadcasting and West German Broadcasting have similar series, drawing significant viewership on ARD channels.
- Honore's diverse body of work includes films such as "Love Songs," a bisexual love story with a tragic ending, and "Sorry Angel," a gay love story in the AIDS crisis.
- Music plays a crucial role in "The Gymnasiast," serving as a means of healing, coping, and expression for the main characters throughout the film.
- Finally, ARD's "One queer" program showcases a variety of queer films, including the classic British gay drama "Maurice" (1987) with a young Hugh Grant.
