Three Dancing Slaves

This is the second movie from director Gael Morel I have watched recently. The first one being "Full Speed." I rated "Full Speed" poorly. By watching this second movie, I understand why. I feel this director is very unorthodox in his expression of gay issues, and by being not familiar with his style of directing, am missing the point of what is being presented.His stories are about a bunch of people, mostly men, in a particular point of their lives. There is no main gay theme. These people could be gay or straight. There is violence in one or two of the characters. He is very much appreciative of the human male form, as all of his actors are very athletic, good looking, perfect bodies (no nerds.) He also makes an emphasis on Arab men, particularly from Algeria, North Africa.This movie revolves around three brothers, Marc, Christophe, and Olivier (the youngest.) Their mother had died painfully and all the boys missed her terribly. Christophe is in jail. He comes out of jail toward the middle of the movie and joins the family (he is straight.) There is one more boy, Hicham, an Arab young boy who is gay and friend of Marc. This boy becomes romantically involved with Olivier. Olivier being the only gay som in the family (he loose his virginity to Hicham without any of the other brothers knowing.) I am not sure what Marc is.Marc gets into trouble with the local thugs (drug dealers) because he owes them money. He gets beaten by them and he is forced to throw his prize dog over a cliff to the town river. I almost turn the movie off as I am an animal lover (I don't think there was any cruelty to the animal, it is just part of the story.) Marc wants revenge and to kill the thug who hurt him and kill his dog. He wants his brother Christophe to help him but he refuses. He then becomes bitter towards his brother. Toward the end of the movie, Marc gets hurt seriously by attempting to run over his nemesis, he misses his target totally, hitting a tree in the process. His anger got the best of him.Christophe gets a job in town after his release from jail and he gets promoted right way, and he finds a girl who is going to marry him, and his life seems to be progressing nicely. Hicham dumps Olivier (I do not know why) after using him. Hicham is a dancer and teaches Oliver the art. Olivier becomes real good (competitive). Marc becomes paralyzed but makes a struggling recovery. The final scene shows Olivier going into a building with a hand gliding instructor. Hicham has taught him to hand glide.Even though I found this movie to be better than "Full Speed", the plot was again somewhat confusing. These are not your ordinary "gay" movies. The scene of the three brothers, in an interlocking position, sleeping naked, is very provocative and erotic, talking about brotherly love (the father was totally mesmerized watching.)The movie near the French Alps making the scenery rather beautiful.

This is a beautifully made film. The acting and production values are superb. I think the reason that some reviewers have difficulty with this film is just that it's a very simple film...It's about three young men dealing with the loss of their mother, and a father who has lost his wife. Each brother finds his own way to deal with his loss; one through drug abuse and self injury, one becomes his father, and another discovers his courage and learns how to love. Morel allows the characters to breathe, and respects us enough to expect us to pay attention to visual clues which are equally important as spoken dialog, without spelling out all the details. Morel is masterful at depicting the emotional tone between individuals and groups. For instance, the scene in which Christophe has just come home from prison is extremely complex. There's a great deal of homo-erotic nuance between the brothers and their friends in this scene. While Morel creates a space for it, and fully inhabits it, he never feels a need to make a point of it, to make a statement. There's simply no need for that. It's not that they are gay or straight, but precisely that the lines between gay and straight are rather fuzzy between these good friends. Putting that message into words would create a self conscious tone in the film which would destroy the dense fabric of emotional ambiguity between the brothers. It may be that the brothers emotional problems have to do with the intensity of their feelings for each other, as well. In the end, each takes his own path. The plot is entirely subservient to the emotional issues of the characters. If you're looking for a plot driven movie, this film has a plot, but the issues that drive the plot are almost entirely internal. This is a film not primarily about events, but how people respond to events and the ways in which their responses change their lives. Viewed from that perspective, this is a unique and powerful film.

This is a very extraordinary film. Tragic and violent at times and yet very sensitive, making the viewer fell as if they are on an emotional roller coaster. Wonderful characters that you can choose to either love or hate. Some bad reviews say the story makes no sense or they couldn't follow the story line, but that is what makes this film so great. Real life has no story line and makes no sense, hence the realism depicted by the film. This is a must see.

Annecy is no tourist destination for three working-class Algerian brothers and their father, in the months after their mother has died. Marc is deeply troubled: he tries to stiff drug dealers and then plots revenge. Christophe is released from jail, lands a job, and must overcome various temptations in order to keep it. Olivier, nearing 18, may be falling in love with Hicham, a young man who constantly practices capoeira on the shores of the lake. Both violence and fraternity are close to the surface of most interactions. How each brother emerges from his challenge comprises the film's drama. Is there any way in which these men can be a family?

This is a fantastic movie that I rented several times through Netflix and am now happy to say that I own. Yes there are several hot bodies and hot guys, however, if you purchase this expecting a gay theme you are wrong. There is actually little sex in this movie at all. Two scenes that are not graphic at all. This movie is more about growing up, the choices we make and how they can impact our lives. I love french films and this did NOT disappoint!

bien apprécié l'histoire, that's strange how young guys live their pressure of the area.

Once again the Europeans prove that they've cornered the market on untranslatable high-art film couture. In this 90min outing three brothers react to their mothers' death in a wide range exotic & erotic episodes. Wrestling, dancing, bonfires, para-gliding, meat-packing & man-on-man action assure this little flick's place in the Great Hall of Confusing Motion Pictures. PLEASE: CLOSE YOUR EYES DURING THE SHOCKING DOG-KILLING SEQUENCE! This one is for true "Indie" fans ONLY!