Presque rien (Come Undone) (2000)
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77% of critics liked it
(31 reviews) -
66% of users liked it
(2,583 ratings)
The third collaboration between screenwriter Stephane Bouquet and writer/director Sebastien Lifshitz, Presque Rien is the story of a young French man coming to terms with his mother's depression, and his own homosexuality, during a summer holiday in France. Delicately handsome Mathieu (Jeremie… More The third collaboration between screenwriter Stephane Bouquet and writer/director Sebastien Lifshitz, Presque Rien is the story of a young French man coming to terms with his mother's depression, and his own homosexuality, during a summer holiday in France. Delicately handsome Mathieu (Jeremie Elkaim) has come to a seaside resort town with his sisters Annick (Marie Matheron) and Sarah (Laetitia Legrix) and his mother (Dominique Reymond), who has suffered from a crippling depression ever since her newborn baby died of cancer. One day while sunning himself on the beach with Sarah, Mathieu notices the attentions of Cedric (Stephane Rideau), a sturdy, handsome, slightly older youth. The two quickly develop an illicit romance, spending their days combing the beach and their evenings slipping off for passionate sex. Cedric, it turns out, has dropped out of school and, after a brief stint as a rent boy and a failed relationship with a boy named Pierre (Nils Ohlund), moved over one town and settled into a comfortable routine of blue-collar work. The sturdy, good-natured Cedric charms Mathieu's family, but the true nature of the youths' relationship soon becomes apparent, leading to conflict, especially with oldest sibling Annick. Mathieu's biggest problem, however, is his sense of powerlessness over his mother's illness and the death in the family. The scenes of his romance with Cedric are interspersed with scenes from two later time periods. In one setting, we witness Mathieu's recovery from a suicide attempt and subsequent refusal to accept Cedric's visits; in another, we see Mathieu return, alone, to the site of his sexual coming of age. Presque Rien received its American release under the title Come Undone; after premiering at the 2001 L.A. Outfest, a gay and lesbian film series, it received a limited art-house release. Rejane Kerdaffrec, who previously appeared in the Lifschitz/Bouquet film Les Corps Ouverts, appears in a small role as Mathieu's psychiatrist. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
- Directed By
- Sébastien Lifshitz
- Genres
- Art House & International, Drama
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Feb 8, 2000 Wide
- Studio
- Picture This! Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Loren King, Boston Globe
Come Undone is the coming-of-age romance French-style, with emotions nuanced, effects subtle. But it's also achingly slow, at times bleak and, in the end, frustratingly and regrettably, rather pointless.
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Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune
While Come Undone has some explicit material, what makes it a mature and special work is its embrace of the knotty and unfamiliar.
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Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Deals with sex in terms of feelings, deep feelings, and with no need to reach for a cheap punch line in order to make everything 'acceptable' for audiences.
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Charles Ealy, Dallas Morning News
Those who like to explore movies will find plenty to admire.
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Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
Although Come Undone deals with serious, difficult subjects ... it handles them kindly and with little angst.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Jérémie Elkaïm
as Mathieu
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Stephane Rideau
as Cedric
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Marie Matheron
as Annick
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Dominique Reymond
as Mother
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Laetitia Legrix
as Sarah
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Rejane Kerdaffrec
as Psychiatrist
