legentillucide Review of Heading South

Heading South (2005)

Clumsy film making and unnecessary «mysteries» spoil a fine subject !

[7/10 · 5 February 2008]

I found that this movie was often clumsily filmed: static long scenes, some unseen reaction shots, etc. -- almost as if it was hastily filmed -- as economically as possible. Also -- perhaps more for female audiences --, it was filmed in a «physically frustrating» way. Overall, too many important clues to the understanding and logic of the story were unnecessarily «hidden» -- specially the ones dealing with what really happened at the very end to Ledba. There were also unnecessarily «prudish» scene -- after all, this film was filmed in 2004, not in 1954 !!! -- such as the two frontal male nudity scenes in which the lighting (or rather the shadows) camouflaged the genitals. Either you show full nudity or you don't ! I'm referring to two scenes, the first when Legba pulls down his trunks and stands stark nude on the beach at night, facing Brenda. The other, when Sue's Haitian lover climbs into bed where she's lying with most of her body covered with sheets. Another thing I noticed: many people wrote about Legba'a «very beautiful» physique. Although his face is very boyishly charming and handsome, his body is far too slim (his legs seem almost as shapeless as long wooden sticks) -- ironical that his name is... LEGba ! Overall, he does not seem to be very sexually «inspiring» -- he has sensuality, yes, but not much sex appeal. Perhaps the producers couldn't find a more suitable actor...? The same possibility might apply to Karen Young. In spite of her great acting, she looked far older and withered than her mid-forties. And she's far to skinny also (with the same type of legs as Legba's). In the very brief scene were she finishes taking a shower, her very bony and flat chest is seen. But perhaps she was cast ON PURPOSE since a much more attractive actress would seem less convincing as a «sexual tourist» -- although she does play the part of a repressed woman from Georgia who had her first orgasm at 45 with Legba, when he was 15 ! All this being said, the scenery is great, the topic still very actual, humane and important. And there's the presence of the cool and always wonderful Charlotte Rampling who is ALMOST miscast : does a woman as attractive as she STILL is -- even at 55 -- «need» to «retribute» young men for intimate company...? But PERHAPS -- just a supposition -- for some woman, once having «tasted» the... let’s say euphemistically... the «close and warm conviviality» of a «divinely attractive» Haitian man... it's very difficult NOT to long to renew the experience... again and again.