In French With English Subtitles
Genre: Drama
Director: Zabou Breitman
Starring: Bernard Campan (“How Much Do You Love Me?), Charles Berling, Lea Drucker
RunTime: 1 hr 54 mins
Released By: Festive Films and GV
Rating: R21 (Mature Theme)
Official Website: www.festivefilms.com/themanofmylife

Opening Day: 2 November 2006

Synopsis :

The Enguerrands are getting ready to spend another summer in their villa deep in the verdant Provence countryside. With Frédéric (Bernard Campan) and his wife, Frédérique (Lea Drucker), and their son, are also coming their cousins, Grandma, sister, brother-in-law... - The whole clan.
Invited by Frédéric to a barbecue, their solitary, self-possessed, gay neighbour Hugo (Charles Berling) openly parades his homosexuality. The two men stay up till dawn, exchanging radically different visions of love. As the summer wears on, Frédérique notices a distance opening between her and her husband, and a powerful bond developing between Frédéric and Hugo.

Movie Review:

Sexuality and the human psyche are complex.

While human sexuality has been categorised in recent times, there are often doubts to its accuracy and precision when it comes to their definitions. It has almost been a global consensus that heterosexuals, homosexuals, lesbians and bi-sexual exist. But doubts remain as to how clear the lines are drawn between them.

This film focuses on the comparison between the homosexuals and the heterosexuals. Prominent questions remain: How heterosexuals are the heterosexuals? Does there exist a possibility that they might be attracted to their own gender? Are there bias towards homosexuals in terms of their occupation and lifestyle? Are the homosexuals being ostracised by society? The list goes on.

The human psyche is another factor that this film touches on. Society often underestimates the power of the human psyche. This film thereby addresses questions such as: Can another human being fill in the role that another has failed? Can someone, in his or her golden years, still find someone new to love? How innocent are the children? Are all of us invincible, fragile or simply vulnerable? Can we live our whole lives in solitude and still live life to the fullest?

This film illustrates a very simple story but the elements that are brought up are highly complex. Frederic (Bernard Campan) and Frederique (Lea Drucker) are a loving couple who has invited their family for a picnic in the Provence countryside. In the midst of their preparation, a homosexual neighbour Hugo (Charles Berling) came to their mind. Sending an invitation to him sets off an emotional journey for both Frederic and Frederique, one that may leave a mark on their lives forever.

Director Zabou Breitman is an ambitious man. This can be seen in his attempt to bring all the human emotions, sexuality and elements together in one feature film, which is by no means an easy feat. But through his deft directing and editing, he succeeded. “The Man of my Life” is, in a word, beautiful, all-encompassing and enticing. Well, figuratively speaking.

The film also explores the theme of voyeurism where people are either observing secretly or are observed. The characters found certain delight in the secrecy and the unknown. At a certain point in the film, the audiences are given an opportunity to have a voyeuristic look at the various characters in the film. This creates an awareness among the audience that they are voyeurs too. This is a very unique way of presenting a message across while still portraying the characters’ vulnerability as they adjust their postures in front of the camera or simply just being themselves.

“The Man of my Life” also seeks to address the subject of Oedipus Complex, when a son seeks to replace his father as the protector of his mum. Besides portraying parental love onscreen, this scene also serves to question the reliability of a spouse and the effect of their negligence on their partner and children.

However, the most prominent thing about this film is the conversation between the heterosexual Frederic and the homosexual Hugo. While Frederique is someone who learns to accept imperfections and understands the ups and downs of a relationship, Hugo is someone who strives to search for perfection, possibly in his partners. This is reflected in Hugo’s mentality when he said that all things in life are ephemeral (which explains his frequent switch of partners). Hugo’s mentality may serve to reflect on the psyche of homosexuals on the whole. What’s ironic about this is that despite their differences, they affect each other’s perception and positively reinforces them, thus establishing a strong rapport.

The dilemmas and enigma of this film is seen not only from the various scenes and events but also from the dialogues that seems to consume the film. The narrative is powerfully employed in this film, alongside strong cinematography.

Provocative and emotionally thought-provoking, “The Man of my Life” is not “Brokeback mountain”. It is much more than that. This film does not bring the lead characters to the fore and pushes everything else back. It does not celebrate homosexualism. This film simply offers a grim, judicious and realistic view of homosexual lifestyle and their aspirations, compares it with the heterosexuals and weaves everybody’s lives, actions and thoughts into the film’s fabric with a smooth touch.

Considering such complexity in sexuality and the human psyche, it’s surprising to see the director condense a lifelong enigma into a film of two hours. It’s an accomplishment that will create a realisation among us that different sexuality doesn’t separate but bind and bond us, and that our emotions and feelings change all the time.

While sexuality may be a hard one to question, “The Man of my Life” will probably change your perception of the human psyche in the midst of exploring homoeroticism among men.

Movie Rating:

(Dark, impactful and thought-provoking, this film is both ‘Sideways’ on an emotional overdrive and “Under the Tuscan Sun” with a sexual twist)

Review by Patrick Tay