During the summertime in France, Franck, a young, homosexual man, frequents a cruising spot, tucked away on the shores of a lake. On one of his visits he notices Michel, an attractive man, who he instantly becomes enamored with. Michel already has a lover, leading Franck to befriend Henri, an older man, who frequents the beach even though he isn't a homosexual per se. One night while leaving the lake, Franck witnesses Michel drowning his lover in the lake. He is shocked, but nonetheless his passion for this dangerous man overrides his better judgement with the two men beginning a passionate affair. Alain Guiraudie's Stranger by the Lake is a phenomenal meditation on love and lust, capturing how our primal urges can simply over-power rationality. This is an extremely well crafted film, that works both as a relationship drama about love as well as an intense thriller. Franck is a character who knows just how dangerous Michel is, even having multiple opportunities to turn him over to the authorities, yet he cannot turn on this man he is so entranced with. Stranger by the Lake is a commentary on Love vs. Lust, showcased by the dichotomy between Frank's relationship with Michel and his relationship with Henri. Michel defines the sexual side of relationship, with Henri being the companion side, even willing to sacrifice himself in an effort to help free Franck from his sexual obsession. Stranger by the Lake is complex, subtle exploration of human emotion and the overall power of falling in love. 9/10
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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