Our main interest in watching this film was the presence of Patrick Dewaere, one of France's best actors of his generation, sadly no longer alive, and Claude Miller's film debut. Not having seen it, the occasion arose when it was shown on a French international cable network.
The story is set in a summer camp where counselors have different groups of boys under their care. Marc, one of the leaders of the men in charge, is a popular man among his peers and the boys under him. Philippe, a quiet young man has a group he is rehearsing for a play in which his boys will participate. The play includes a boy in drag, impersonating a princess in the fantasy he is directing. Philippe happens to be the son of the camp director, but like the others, he does not receive special privileges.
One day Marc, passing by Philippe's room, catches him dressing as a woman, something that shocks him as well as surprises him. Marc begins acting strangely, but there is no actual confrontation about what he perceived as Philippe's odd behavior. Philippe begins to feel the other counselors' sneers, although no one openly accuses him of anything specific. All that comes to an end when Marc takes it upon himself to harass Philippe.
The object of Marc's revenge is Chantal, a woman whose picture Philippe keeps on his window. In Marc's mind, he believes there is something wrong with Philippe in pursuing a woman, when in reality he must crave after men. To prove he is 'normal' Philippe forces himself upon Chantal with terrible results. Marc's masculinity is pitted against Philippe's own ambivalence. Everything comes to a head during the performance Philippe is staging as he comes out dressed as a woman who goes against Marc in a bullfighter's costume.
"The Best Way to Walk" was an ambitious project, even for the more liberal French cinema. It was a film that freed taboos, as male nudity is shown in full view. Claude Miller showed daring in his approach to the material. The all male camp was probably a hotbed for acts of homosexuality, which seems to be reinforced by the way Philippe behaves in his relationship with his young charges and the way he dressed when he was alone. Written by Mr. Miller and Luc Beraud, this was a film ahead of its times.
The intense Patrick Dewaere made an impact in his take of Marc. He was an actor that always delivered, as he does in here. If Mr. Dewaere was good, his co-star Patrick Bouchitay made quite an impression as Philippe. This actor, who had it all, suffered from type casting after the completion of the picture, something sad because he probably missed on a lot of opportunities where to shine. Christine Pascal appeared as Chantal, the love interest of Philippe. A young Michel Blanc is seen as Deloux.
The story is set in a summer camp where counselors have different groups of boys under their care. Marc, one of the leaders of the men in charge, is a popular man among his peers and the boys under him. Philippe, a quiet young man has a group he is rehearsing for a play in which his boys will participate. The play includes a boy in drag, impersonating a princess in the fantasy he is directing. Philippe happens to be the son of the camp director, but like the others, he does not receive special privileges.
One day Marc, passing by Philippe's room, catches him dressing as a woman, something that shocks him as well as surprises him. Marc begins acting strangely, but there is no actual confrontation about what he perceived as Philippe's odd behavior. Philippe begins to feel the other counselors' sneers, although no one openly accuses him of anything specific. All that comes to an end when Marc takes it upon himself to harass Philippe.
The object of Marc's revenge is Chantal, a woman whose picture Philippe keeps on his window. In Marc's mind, he believes there is something wrong with Philippe in pursuing a woman, when in reality he must crave after men. To prove he is 'normal' Philippe forces himself upon Chantal with terrible results. Marc's masculinity is pitted against Philippe's own ambivalence. Everything comes to a head during the performance Philippe is staging as he comes out dressed as a woman who goes against Marc in a bullfighter's costume.
"The Best Way to Walk" was an ambitious project, even for the more liberal French cinema. It was a film that freed taboos, as male nudity is shown in full view. Claude Miller showed daring in his approach to the material. The all male camp was probably a hotbed for acts of homosexuality, which seems to be reinforced by the way Philippe behaves in his relationship with his young charges and the way he dressed when he was alone. Written by Mr. Miller and Luc Beraud, this was a film ahead of its times.
The intense Patrick Dewaere made an impact in his take of Marc. He was an actor that always delivered, as he does in here. If Mr. Dewaere was good, his co-star Patrick Bouchitay made quite an impression as Philippe. This actor, who had it all, suffered from type casting after the completion of the picture, something sad because he probably missed on a lot of opportunities where to shine. Christine Pascal appeared as Chantal, the love interest of Philippe. A young Michel Blanc is seen as Deloux.