L'Homme Blesse (1988) (AKA The Wounded
Man)
What makes this French homoerotic
drama work is the actors. Jean-Hughes Anglade is particularly
engaging as the "troubled" young Henri. He wanders
quietly through this film with his large, brown, fawn-like
eyes drawing us in to the complex yet somehow vague
plot. His quiet energy speaks volumes and intensifies
our need to understand him. When he becomes involved
with other men, the ragged Jean (Vittorio Mezzogiorno)
and the odd yet fatherly Dr. Bosmans (Roland Bertin)
we not only get drawn into their characters but delve
further into knowing Henri.
Henri's attraction to the two men
is strangely motivated. He has an unhappy home-life,
although we are not exactly sure why. His mother and
father are stereotypically motherly and fatherly and
his sister, who leaves at the film's beginning, is
a typical sibling, rude and distant. For some unknown
and unexplored reason, she returns mid-way through
the film.
Henri meets the men at a train station
in what are beautifully filmed, fluidly moving, erotic
scenes. His attraction and repulsion to the action
involving the two men is sad and compelling. Through
exposition we realize that Henri is gay and simply
naive about his newfound feelings. His misadventure
through the relationship with the two men seems to
be a allegory for exploring certain homosexual relationships,
mainly destructive ones.
This film may be homoerotic, but
it is not flattering to homosexuals. Henri is an innocent
caught up in a world not of his own making but one
that entices him just the same. What he finds in this
world is prostitution, rage, rape, deceit, sadness
and anger. The film builds to a sexual climax by constantly
denying Henri any sexual gratification or love. Even
when he finally meets a seemingly nice enough guy
his own age the two must search forever to find a
deserted hideaway to share a simple kiss. When Henri's
climax finally comes, literally and figuratively,
it is destructive and hollow.
This is the only film that I've
ever seen which articulates some of Jean Genet's themes
about desire and murderous intent. Moreso than Fassbinder's
"Querelle"
and Todd Hayne's "Poison," two films that claim to
be about the works of Genet, this film, which makes
no such claim, seems to be the only one of the three
that adequately handles these themes. It is certainly
the only one that makes anything coherent or interesting
film out of them.
Thanks to Anglade's compelling performance
and Patrice Chereau's gritty yet somehow innocent
direction, "L'Homme Blesse" is an intoxicating film
to watch. You will find it impossible not to get caught
up with Henri in the world he so desperately wishes
to discover.
Note:
French with subtitles.
Review written in 1993 after viewing
a VHS copy of the film.
