Mauvais garçon (1993)
Directed by Jacques Bral

Film Review

Iranian born director Jacques Bral followed up his acclaimed drama Extérieur, nuit (1980) and stylish thriller Polar (1984) with Mauvais garçon, a hauntingly poetic, yet slightly tongue-in-cheek, study in amorous obsession and frustrated desire.  Although the film is generally not as well-regarded as Bral's other work, perhaps because of its apparent narrative sparsity, it is a seductive, strangely compelling piece and has far greater depth than is at first apparent.  Bral's assured direction and some suitably moody photography give the film a gentle film noir texture, an unusual treatment for what would otherwise be a pretty conventional French romantic drama.

Cast as the irresistible male lead is Bruno Wolkowitch, an actor who is far better known for his television work - most notably in the popular French crime series PJ (Police judiciaire), in which he played a leading character for 97 episodes - than for his film appearances, which are (inexplicably) comparatively rare.  He had a supporting role in Jacques Rivette's Jeanne la pucelle (1994) and took the lead in Francis Girod's Terminale (1998).  With his Paul Newman good looks and obvious sensual charms (both of which are exploited to the limit by Bral in this film), Wolkowitch ought to have been a major star of French cinema, but somehow television and theatre took over his life and it was not to be.

In Mauvais garçon, Bruno Wolkowitch is at his best, superb as the seductive bad boy who is every feminists' worst nightmare and every spinsters' dream.  Not only does he have the requisite sex appeal to make him convincing as a modern Don Juan, he also has the raw talent to make his character far more than just a bland archetype.  Whilst the script (the film's one shortcoming) does him few favours, he succeeds in revealing something of his character's inner world, his insecurities and need for companionship.  Even though the character is highly objectionable, we cannot help feeling something for him. Wolkowitch's hypnotic performance is perfectly matched by the engaging contributions from his equally talented co-stars, Delphine Forest and Ludmila Mikaël, who are both just as alluring.  In common with so much of Bral's work, Mauvais garçon is an underrated little gem waiting to be rediscovered.

Film Synopsis

Immediately after being released from prison, where he has served a short stretch for petty larceny, 30-something Thomas returns to his girlfriend, only to find she is in bed with another man.  He makes up for this betrayal by throwing himself into a series of meaningless sexual encounters.  With his drop dead good looks and lethal charisma, he has no difficulty attracting women, and he sees nothing wrong in stealing a diamond bracelet from one in order to purchase favours from another.  Then Thomas meets Léa, a young woman who works in a record shop.  For some reason, Léa fails to succumb to his charms, even when he forces his way into her apartment one evening.  The more Léa rejects him, the more Thomas feels drawn to her.   Is it possible that he has fallen for her...?