Tendres Cousines [DVD]

I can't quite make up my mind as to whether I'm disappointed with this film or not. It is something of a cross between the old TV programmes "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "Dad's Army."

If you want something light-hearted, well OK. If you want to be thoroughly entertained then I'd say give this one a miss.

The formerly rich family are somewhat dysfunctional, obviously going through financial adversity in a time when Europe was sliding down the slippery slope towards war and all of it's accompanying atrocities - though there's nothing of that nature depicted here.

The story line is very lightweight and often predictable - even, at times, most improbable; but it does invoke a few chuckles along the way.

One can't help feeling, however, that so much more could have been achieved had a little more thought gone into the writing.

The servants are a bunch of sex maniacs who don't even seek the solace of a private place when their urges take them. Indeed, one couple are caught romping in the kitchen whilst the family wait patiently upstairs at the dining table for their meals to be brought up to them.

All of this, and the weird goings on amongst the family themselves and their "lodgers" does not go unnoticed by the teen element of the household. Indeed, running alongside all of this debauchery is another story. A sort of coming of age drama - though I fear "drama" is something of a misnoma in this film's case.

A triangular affair, it's boy fancies girl but girl fancies someone else whilst a younger girl fancies boy but he's too besotted with the first girl to have any interest in her - and anyway she's too young in his eyes. It gets even more complicated when boy is discovered in bed with one of the maids and his first sexual escapade is brought to an abrupt halt. The father, however, obviously told by his wife to have a stern word with the boy, tells the boy to make sure he doesn't get caught next time. It's all very Gilbert and Sullivan like - but without the music.

All in all, this is a mildly amusing tale but I think it is something where one would need to be in a certain mood to persevere with it. Don't take it seriously and you may well appreciate it for what it is - though I doubt it will ever be called a classic.

Would I recommend it? Hmmmm, only as very, very light entertainment.

David Hamilton was a 70s photographer, much admired and copied in his time, who ventured into movies. His work in that medium repeats many of his photographic preferences and styles, with soft lighting and colours, slightly off-focus images, pretty young girls and by no means least, a degree of nudity.

Hamilton's movies are far less known than are his still images and the books within which most were published. It may be that four of the five were made primarily for the French Art Cinema movement in French. I know that his first such effort, Bilitis, did receive a limited UK distribution but possibly not any other. Most of his preferred models and actors were unknowns and many were students of ballet or dance who were used for their litheness, ability to create and hold a pose, and also for their beauty. No less so here.

Primarily a coming-of-age story told in relatively few words, the movie relies mostly on its imagery, concentrating on the perceived youth and innocence of its cast. Hamilton typically would use as models those who looked much younger than their true age in order to portray pubescence without any risk of legal intervention. UK law, and I believe French law, permitted persons 16-18 to pose nude if parental permission was given. US law prohibits such activity if under 18 so that Hamilton's films may well have been in breach of their standards. That alone may explain the limited distribution of his movies.

Hamilton was neither a trained or experienced scriptwriter or director, and it shows! Consequently, the movie can best be described as satisfactory but not good and would not be a candidate for any major award.

Enjoy it for its imagery, lighting and techniques and for Hamilton's easy ability to extract the last ounce of beauty from his cast, if nothing more.

Tendres Cousines is amusing (sometimes unintentionally) and visually beautiful.

Set on the brink of WWII it is a coming of age tale, set in the countryside and full of observation on class, age, and adolescent love.

I recommend it