Written and directed by Olivier Peyon, co-written by Philippe Besson and Arthur Cahn, an author returns to his hometown of Cognac for the first time in 35 years to help promote a distillery. He is also there to face the memories of his first love. The people and places he returns to evoke many feelings from the past. Starring: Guillaume de Tonquédec, Victor Belmondo, Guilaine Londez, Jérémy Gillet, Julien De Saint Jean and Pierre-Alain Chapuis.
Putting together nostalgia, lingering questions about a past lover and a hurried, young romance viewed through older eyes, Lie with Me creates the perfect storm for a sentimental, endearing drama. It has a rosy lens and everything is wrapped in a blend of curiosity and warmth. However, that’s not to say it becomes too sweet because it’s balanced with a frenzied energy, intensity and plenty of sadness.
The performances from Guillaume de Tonquédec and Victor Belmondo are highly charged and emotional, the tension between them is surprisingly compelling. There’s a huge conflict between them which gradually opens up to a rather moving connection. The way that the story moves provides space for de Tonquédec to explore a lot of different emotions and give Stéphane interesting layers reflecting upon his first love. Belmondo’s Lucas holds a bubbling amount of resentment, strongly pushing Stéphane’s buttons and bringing his past to the surface. While Jérémy Gillet and Julien De Saint Jean create a hurried, closeted romance, with youthful passion and an exploration of shame. It’s sweet and fresh but also complicated and heartbreaking.
What’s interesting about Olivier Peyon’s direction is that Lie with Me takes in the feel of the expansive countryside but is simultaneously incredibly intimate. Peyon has a wonderful handle on capturing the feel of a small town, tradition and also brings through the feel of homophobia. Portraying the way that prejudice can change and while it’s no longer immediately upfront, it’s constantly sneaking into conversation and colouring reactions. Despite that there is a fair deal of sadness to this tale of repression and regret, Peyon manages to hold onto that rosy, romantic and nostalgic atmosphere.
Lie with Me is a complicated romance, following the messy memories of a first love and the search for long awaited answers. It’s filled with tension and manages to capture the rosiness of romance with the complexity of shame and internalised homophobia. A big part of holding onto that balance is the wonderful cast at work who can move flawlessly through intensity, comedy and moving emotion.
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