Queerguru’s Jose Mayorgas reviews ‘FLESH AND FUEL  (Du fioul dans les artéres)’ @ Cannes Festival Critics Week

A study on loneliness and longing the directorial debut of Pierre Le Gall

Etienne (Alexis Manenti) is a French container truck driver, he moves through Europe in daily long shifts, his job is a demanding one; the truck is his shelter, too. Sometimes, he even cleans himself on board.  By night, he stops at parking lots to rest, but before, he walks by the nearby woods to meet other men, anonymously. 

In one of those walks looking for company, backlighted,  \he sees the vision of a big man that turns out to be Polish Bartosz (Julian Swiezewski), who drives a red truck and also moves from one country to another in a busy schedule, finding time to stop for a few hours to relax. The film tells their story and how an encounter by chance allows them to develop feelings for each other.

We watch gloomy Etienne behave and react to energetic and enthusiastic Bartosz while, slowly, among several encounters at parking lots on the road, text messages, and video calls, they get to know each other and develop a bond that may disappear at the blink of an eye. The film also provides a little context on the commercial activity they are related to.

Very interesting to watch and enjoy.  It makes a statement on human condition and how necessary it is to connect in life. 

 

Review by José Mayorgas , Guatemala, Central America lawyer and notary public, visual artist, and editor of El Azar Cultural, lives and works in Guatemala City. Cinema lover, curious about the possibilities life brings and eager to live the experience.

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