Water Drops On Burning Rocks

**

Reviewed by: Angus Wolfe Murray

Water Drops On Burning Rocks
"Absurdity leads to tragedy, which is absurd in itself."

Highly stylised, cinematically housebound and deeply distressing as an insight into sexual games playing, Francois Ozon's adaptation of a theatre piece that Rainer Werner Fassbinder wrote at the age of 19 is tinged with cruelty.

An older man entices a naive 20-year-old youth to his spotlessly clean apartment, where, after drinks and talk of boarding school fumblings, he seduces him. Six months later, they are still together, except the boy has taken on the role of devoted servant and the man rebukes him constantly, as if the pleasure of undermining his lover's self confidence enhances his power over him.

Copy picture

Later, when the youth is at a suicidal level of depression, his ex-girlfriend turns up, whips off her top and leaps into bed. Rather than being left out, the older man turns on the charm and quite fancies a threesome, except, by this time, an ex of his, a transsexual, appears at the door, only too willing to join in the fun.

Absurdity leads to tragedy, which is absurd in itself. The film isn't saying anything other than beware vain men in stay-pressed slacks and neckerchiefs, who worry about whether they look their age. Also, obsessive tidyness indicates anal-retentive tendencies.

Reviewed on: 19 Jan 2001
Share this with others on...
Water Drops On Burning Rocks packshot
A businessman seduces a twentysomething man, only for trouble to ensue after he moves in with him.
Amazon link

Read more Water Drops On Burning Rocks reviews:

Keith Hennessey Brown ***

Director: Francois Ozon

Writer: Francois Ozon, based on the play by Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Starring: Bernard Girandeau, Ludivine Sagnier, Malik Zidi, Anna Thomson

Year: 2000

Runtime: 90 minutes

BBFC: 18 - Age Restricted

Country: France

Festivals:

EIFF 2000

Search database: