re:mote voices

Title: Water Drops On Burning Rock [Gouttes D'Eau Sur Pierres Brûlantes]
Cast: Bernard Giraudeau, Malik Zidi, Ludivine Sagnier, Anna Levine
Director: François Ozon

water drops on burning rock is a small scale film really, taking more of a play form, where everything takes place in a handful of acts and all in the same couple of rooms. there are only 4 characters and the whole drama is restricted in scope. the result is that there really isn't much going on, and especially to start with there is a certain dragging sense.

franz is 20, he has been going out with anna for 3 years, despite the fact that he thinks he will probably marry her, he somehow isn't entirely happy with the relationship. so when leo, a 50 year old man, hits on him in a bar, he finds himself back at leo's flat without much persuading. act 1 starts with the arrival in the flat and how this launches their relationship.

6 months in and franz does work around the house, waiting for leo to come home at the weekend, having been travelling all week. leo is difficult, and psychologically manipulative, weakening franz by making it seem like everything he does is wrong. in the first act leo has talked of a previous relationship, where all they did was fight all the time. it quickly becomes clear that is his style, and that he is mirroring his relationship with franz on that previous one.

act 3 sees the arrival of anna. franz's ex-girlfriend who still loves him. her arrival is planned perfectly, with franz increasingly conscious of the friction between him and leo. anna wants him back. of course things become complicated further in the last act, leo returns from his business trip to find franz and anna together, then leo's ex turns up as well. putting all 4 characters in the flat together.

this is really a story about leo. charismatic enough to get folk hooked. but a user and abuser, so that it seems he will suck the vitality out of someone while he can, then cast them aside. to be honest, of the francois ozon films i have seen this is the one i enjoyed the least. though it is interesting to see ludivine sagnier again, having watched swimming pool the night before.