I take issue with the translation of “Arrête avec tes mesonges” which in my French means “stop with your lies” far more appropriate than “Come Lie with Me” given the path and plot of the film.
You see Stéphane Belcourt (Guillame de Tonquédec) is a gay novelist who is quite out of the closet. On a book tour to his old home to promote his latest short story he meets Lucas Andrieu who is running a tour of American book distributors in town to participate in its 200th anniversary and hear Belcourt make a speech at a celebratory dinner.
Belcourt as a 17-year-old way back in 1984 had a short and passionate fling with Thomas Andrieu, yes Lucas’ father! Thomas was fastidious about this relationship taking great pains to ensure absolutely no one had knowledge of it. He took this concealment to his grave despite having married and having a son Lucas. Yes, the fling with Belcourt was brief as Thomas went to work on his grandfather’s farm Spain shortly after the affair had begun never to return to Belcourt’s arms. Belcourt accepted his homosexuality and emerged from the closet but Thomas concealed it his entire life committing suicide after his lover in his later years gave him an ultimatum come out or I will leave you. He rejected that ultimatum.
Lucas pieced a few material and behavioral clues his father left behind to point to Belcourt as his lover including a letter from his father to Belcourt which was never delivered which provides a degree of redemption for Thomas and clarity and healing for Belcourt.
Oh my goodness count on the French cinema to deliver a sophisticated and gentle homosexual tale with discretion and reserve unlike many of the North American and Brazilian LGBTQ films that may absolutely deter straight audiences from watching them.
“Arrête avec tes mesonges” is exactly the film to draw straight audiences into watching a film with a homosexual context. I would like think “Arrête avec tes mesonges” of as a film about two humans in love.
Well acted throughout with Tonquédec brilliant, the quirky and hyperactive Gaelle (Guilaine Londez) offering understated comic relief and yes Victor Belmondo looking like the spitting image of his grandfather Jean-Paul Belmondo and delivering a solid performance.
Directed by Olivier Peyon the film will be available in North America on DVD and VOD on 15February2024.
You can watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FEWFGixfwo
RKS 2024 Film Rating: 91/100.
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 