Beau Travail (1999)

This movie begins in a straightforward manner. Scenes of a nightclub in the African city of Djibouti are followed by an introduction by narrator Galoup (Denis Lavant). He is a former Sergeant Major with the French Foreign Legion who has been court-martialed in France for cruel treatment of a subordinate. The rest of the film takes place in flashbacks and details the events leading up to Galoup's punishment. His downfall occurs because of jealousy and an attraction he has for Gilles Sentain (Grégoire Colin), a handsome new recruit admired by everyone in the troop. Repressed homosexual feelings are strongly suggested. The tensions between the two thicken when Galoup moves the cadets further inland and gives them difficult tasks under the pretext that they are building a road. However, his primary motive is to get away from Commander Bruno Forestier (Michel Subor) in order to confront Sentain without any repercussions. When Sentain helps another soldier, violating Galoup's orders, Galoup sees a chance to destroy him. As a punishment, Galoup drives him out into the desert to make him walk back to the base. But Sentain doesn't return because Galoup has tampered with his compass. Even though Sentain is later found and rescued, Galoup is sent back to France for a court martial. The final scene suggests the possibility of his suicide.

Loosely based on Herman Melville's novella "Billy Budd", this film has a simple plot and not much dialogue. It relies heavily on music to carry the story, from French hip-hop to opera and disco. Parts of the soundtrack are from the opera by Benjamin Britten also based on Melville's novella. The very obvious gay sub-text is strengthened by the homoerotic images of muscular hunky men sweating in the sun, swimming in the ocean, and climbing walls with the contours of their bodies shown with much detail. Written by Jean-Pol Fargeau and Claire Denis, who also directed. The English title is "Good Work", but the language is French with no subtitles

Salut Victor (1989)

Old, tired, and frail Philippe Lanctot (Jean-Louis Roux) movies into an old folks home. The administrator says she wants him to be happy, but he's just waiting to die. Then Victor Laprade (Jacques Godin) enters his room unannounced and draws him out over the next few months. Despite their very different backgrounds, Victor teaches Philippe to experience and enjoy each precious moment, whether sipping the last drops of liquor from a flask, or delighting in merely spending a few moments together. In return, the well-heeled Philippe organizes field trips to dinner and to a botanical garden, and unknown to Victor, becomes the man's benefactor when Victor's children become stingy. The openly-gay Victor also pushes Philippe to acknowledge gay feelings he's always kept suppressed. They are a gay odd couple in the latter years of their lives. Victor is brash, garrulous, and intentionally oblivious to other people's personal boundaries. Philippe is dignified, repressed, closeted, and isolated. During their short-lived relationship each embraces the other lending their best qualities. The friendship that develops between the two is platonic, but Victor admits that if he'd met Philippe when he was younger, things might have turned out differently. The pace drags a bit towards the end, but the film doesn't overstay its welcome. There isn't a lot of action, but the dialogue is lively and the pair have wonderful chemistry. The title gives away the conclusion of the film. Adapted from Edward Phillips's novella "Matthew and Chauncyde", this French Canadian movie was written and directed by Anne-Claire Poirier. The alternative title is "Bye Bye Victor!".