Search - Like a Brother (Unrated) on DVD

Short, but sweet coming-of-age story

Bob Lind | Phoenix, AZ United States | 01/13/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sebastian is a 19 year old French boy living in a small town, who has unrequitted longings for Romain, who has been "Like A Brother (Comme un frère)" (2005) to him for many years. Jealous of Romain's developing relationship with a girl, Sebastian is torn between comforting his friend and jumping for joy when she goes off with someone else. While Romain is outwardly affectionate toward Sebastian, he senses his friend is gay and isn't surprised when Sebastian leaves their province to go to Paris, where he lives with his father (after coming out to him) and begins to explore his gay feelings in the club scene there. Those first few months are tough for Sebastian (who now calls himself Zack, after a character on an American TV show), who keeps thinking back to his best times with Romain. After a disappointing first sexual experience with someone who was just looking for a one night stand, Zack eventually meets Bruno, with whom he begins a tentative relationship. Then he gets a call: Romain is in town and wants to see him.

Beautifully photographed, with excellent production quality, and very attractive twink-ish actors in the two lead roles. It's short (only 55 minutes) and a little confusing, with most of the story told in abrupt flashbacks that alternate between a year ago and just a few weeks ago. In French with English subtitles (which cannot be turned off), DVD includes "making of" feature with writer, director and actors. I give it 4 stars out of 5.
"

Found myself

Derrick Jenkins | Hampton VA USA | 01/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"wanting this one to be a bit longer. i wanted to see how things went between the main character and his best friend. but then again that is the goal of any director to leave the audience wanting more. you know to see if this or that happened. it was great getting to watch a movie like this seeing the dynamics between a guy and his best friend although he has a girl friend. it seemed to me that he was interested as well but due to people's perception and close minded ideals. he continued to be who he was because of that. i must say if there are more movies like this that offer this kind of experience and look into the lives of people (gay, straight or whatever). then movie watching for me just got a bit more interesting. my only wish was for the movie to be a bit longer. i however enjoyed the special features seeing how the movie came together and discussions with the various actors in the film.

a solid movie in all respects!!"

Finding Self Through Flashbacks and Fragments

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 04/14/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"'Comme un frère' (Like a Brother) is a brief film by writers and directors Bernard Alapetite and Cyril Legann that succinctly examines the development of identity of a young lad over a period of less than a year. The technique of telling the story of the coming of sexual age of a boy is one that may confuse some viewers - the present is combined with the past in a patchwork manner, the only key that the past is the subject is the use of near monochrome film color that successfully suggests the blur that past events now faded affect the senses - becomes one of the more unique aspects of this little French film.

The story opens in Paris where young Sébastien/AKA Zack (Benoît Delière) sits in a café with his current boyfriend Bruno (Johnny Amaro) and lets it be known that it is his birthday. Bruno's questioning as to why Sébastien is not in a celebratory mood begins flashbacks of a year ago when Sébastien lived in the small coastal town of La Baule where he doted on his best friend Romain (Thibault Boucaux). Despite Romain's devotion and physical closeness to Sébastien, Romain is in love with Sophie (Amandine Maugy) whose best friend Marine (Adeline Ishiomin) is trying to attract the love interest of Sébastien. The four are close, but something is missing: Sébastien loves Romain and while the two have some beautifully tender moments together, Romain is not the gay boy Sébastien needs.

Sébastien leaves his provincial town for Paris, connects with his father (Michel Derville) and confides his true identity as a gay young man. His father is warmly supportive and suggests Sébastien move in with him. Sébastien (now called 'Zack') begins to visit clubs and eventually is absorbed into the gay life, yet he still dreams of Romain. After months pass and Zack is in a comfortable relationship (Patrick Esilva), Romain comes to Paris and the two now young men meet in a park - but where will this new reunion lead?

The actors are for the most part very fine - especially Thibault Boucaux and Adeline Ishiomin - and the sensual aspects of the story are well captured with restraint. With a running time of only 55 minutes the story flies past the eyes much in the way memories bounce in the psyche and it is this manner that makes the story fresh. There should be more to come from the creators and certainly from some of the fine new actors in this film. In French with English subtitles. Grady Harp, April 07"

The Carnality of Youth

Amos Lassen | Little Rock, Arkansas | 01/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""LIKE A BROTHER"
The Carnality of Youth
Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride
There is something about the way the French make movies and make love. Put the two ideas together and you have dynamite. "Like a Brother" (WaterBearer Films) is just that. It intensely describes a youth who is torn between childish love and masculine desire. As Sebastien (who changes his name to Zack) explores the limits of his sexuality, there is a thrill, there is excitement and there is insecurity. We all know how awkward self discovery can be and how painful it is as well. The most difficult years any of us face ate those years in which we come of age and our raging hormones overtake us. We must not only deal with the heightened sexuality of puberty but we also have to find out who we are.
Sebastien, our hero, experiences the same feelings, the same questions and the same uncertainties. He wants to be someone else--he is not happy with who he is.
Sebastien realizes that to fulfill his dream of self-discovery he must leave the small town of his youth. Thus, he moves to Paris because he wants to succeed as an actor and he reinvents himself. Gone is the old Sebastien and in his place is Zack. Zack represents to him everything Sebastien is not. Away from his family he can pursue his dreams and live freely as a gay man. This is exemplified beautifully in the opening scene of the movie when we see him primping before the mirror as he prepares to make his nightly foray to the city's most fashionable gay bars. He is looking for love and as he movies from trick to trick, from man to man, he becomes convinced that sexual fulfillment and emotional strength are not in the offing.
Ashe ay alone one night, his mind takes him back to the small town when times were happier and there was no such thing as loneliness. He recalls the friendship he had with best pal Romain and he realizes that was what love was--he and Romain.
But time and distance have taken Roman from him until one day he calls and says that he is coming to Paris. Zach sees this as a sign that new life will be blown into their relationship which remains unrequited. Zack is force3d to make some big decisions so that he can live an honest life.
. A sense of sexual abandon saturates this film as it pulsates with sexual energy. As Zack stands on the threshold of adulthood he must decide between his "boyish love" and his "manly passions".
What great insight is provided by this film!!!!!!!! A look into the young mind gives us the chance to better understand ourselves.
The French have done it again with another powerful movie and we are so lucky to have it. It is just not fair that it was not around when I was growing up.
It is a beautiful and sincere look at becoming a man and told with unbridled passion. "Like a Brother" is one of the first of the new crop pf films to greet us in 2007 and I believe it will remain on the top list for the year to come. Start your new year off by having a look at it. Maybe we did not go through the period the way Sebastien/Zack did, but regardless it will trigger memories.
"