Video Americain

Amos Lassen wrote on 12/18/2011:

“Fogi is a Bastard” is one of those small films that often gets overlooked and that is too bad because it has a lot to say. It is deceptively simple and filled with a quiet, intelligent emotional reverberation.

“Fogi” begins at the end, with tragedy. Its focus is an intimate look at first sex and first love. It is dark and sexy and it disturbs. We see love as abusive, warped and betrayed yet the film has a sense of purity to it. It reflects unredemptive reality and shows love having the ability to give sense to an existence which has no meaning.

“Fogi” documents a well traveled “road to perdition”. Set in Switzerland in the 1970’s, it could happen anywhere, anytime. Two young actors play the leads and do so with aplomb. Basically the story is simple. Beni (Vincent Branchet) is fifteen and he falls in love with Fogi (Frederic Andrau), a singer in a rock band. Fogi seduces him and Beni is willing to go anywhere and do anything that Fogi wants. However, Fogi is a drug addict and he pulls Beni deeper and deeper into drug addiction.

The relationship of the two boys is a role-playing exercise. Beni’s infatuation makes sense since Fogi is a rock star and as the relationship deepens the role-playing becomes sexual. Beni becomes a slave to his master and we watch his emotional degradation. Eventually Fogi gets Beni hooked on drugs and everything begins to spiral out of control and Beni is so in love that he doesn’t realize what is happening. The end, of course, is tragic and when Fogi loses his life to drugs Beni believes that he did not do enough for Fogi in order to save him.

The film pushes the edge of what is permissible and it all goes downhill with a kind of sweetness. It is poignant and has so much to show about the nature of love when mixed with drugs.

truepreppy wrote on 07/19/2010:

I cried

jon (dreamcatcherjh@hotmail.com) wrote on 08/09/2003:

This is one of the best movies I've seen. I'm sure I lost some meaning in having to read the subtitles. However, this movie is more true to what might happen to the characters involved than an American film of a 16 yr old boy.
No glossing over the bastard Fogi, that is what he is without doubt. But I found myself caring about him
The boy is simply in love for the first time. He wants to be loved by Fogi. At first things go well. Drugs begin to take their toll on Fogi, and the boy, Beni, starts experimenting with the drugs.
The depth of Beni's love for Fogi is very touching. Dark things happen as the story progresses, but I never felt any of the events were unlikely. Unfortunate, definitely, but also very possible.
This is a very moving story. It is well acted. I wish American actors would give their all to gay characters like these guys did. If actors are afraid of being perceived as gay simply because they act the part in a movie then they should not take the part.
This is a study in human life that should be enjoyed by gay or straight viewers. The love scences are tenderly erotic.