JONAS/I AM JONAS
France, 2018, 82 minutes, Colour.
Felix Maritaud, Nicolas Bauwens, Tommy- Lee Baik, Aure Aticka, Ilian Bergala.
Directed by Christophe Charrier.
This is an arresting drama, focusing on Jonas, firstly as an adolescent at school, then as a hospital worker in his early 30s. There are strong performances by the two actors who play Jonas, Felix Maritaud as the older, Nicolas Bauwens as the younger. The screenplay moves between each era, sequences commenting on the other, the audience getting to understand each of the personas of Jonas better.
The young Jonas lives at home, 1997, his father watching television about the death of Princess Diana. He has a friend at school though he is rather isolated. A fellow student arrives at school and Jonas is intrigued and attracted, the new student being bold and anti-authority, Jonas falling in love with him.
The older Jonas is something of a wreck. He works in a hospital and is kind to patients and visitors. He is active in his homosexual life, violent and drinking and collapsing, but takes an interest in a particular young man, following him.
The complexity is that the young man is the younger brother of the student he fell in love with – and there are flashbacks to the two young men going to the gay club in the town, refused entry, picked up by an older man who drives away, Jonas anxious, causing the car to crash – and his friend never seen again.
This means conflicts between Jonas and the younger brother and meeting with their mother whom he had known in the past.
A film exploring gay orientation, psychology, and some tragic consequences.
1. The title, the focus on Jonas, as an adolescent at school, in his 30s, working in the hospital, a seemingly aimless life?
2. The setting, the town, home, school, hospital, beachfront? Familiar? The musical score?
3. The two time periods, introducing Jonas as adolescent, the transition to adult, the intercutting between the two periods, the thematic connections, memories, regrets?
4. Jonas adolescent, in the car, the Game Boy, the threatening apparition and its meaning? Reassured by his father? At home, 1997, the father watching the Princess Diana news? His mother supporting him? At school, no friends, memories of breaking up with a friend and not contacting him? The principal and the class, Caroline, his rejection of her in the classroom for Nathan? The attraction to Nathan? Talking, the gossip of the other boys, Nathan fainting, going to the gym, Nathan’s talk about abuse by the priests, later revealing he had made it up and not thought he would be believed? The gift of the Game Boy and Jonas treasuring it, Leonard later tossing it into the pool, finally in Jonas leaving it behind? The sexual attraction? The abusive boy, the cigarettes, Nathan making him sick? Going to Nathan’s house, his mother welcoming them, the swimming pool? The outings with Nathan, going to the gay club, not being let in, the man picking them up, Jonas and his apprehension, stopping the car, getting out, Nathan injured, the man driving off, Nathan never heard of again? The police interrogation, the family interrogation, Nathan ashamed because he did not help and got out of the car? The effect on him?
5. Jonas as adult, his appearance, clothes, bike, going to the gay club, dancing, fighting, the police picking him up, meeting Caroline again, the interrogation? His dependence on his parents, but their being absent? His work at the hospital, the old man in his operation, comforting the wife? Going to the beach, stalking Leonard and his girlfriend? Going to the hotel, the encounter with Leonard, smoking in his room, the water, Leonard knowing who he was? Going to the club, Jonas collapsing, brought home? Meeting Nathan’s mother after 17 years, her being upset, Leonard accusing him? Nathan and his memories, driving with Leonard, suspecting that Nathan was dead?
6. How convincing was the transition from the adolescent Jonas to the adult Jonas, his decline? A psychologically interesting film about a gay man, transition, decline, guilt haunting him?
