Film Reviews

Heading South

• Rating:
• Director: Laurent Cantet
• Starring: Charlotte Rampling
• Details: France, 108mins, 15.

"When I was young I knew that I would end up paying a man to love me. I just didn't know it would happen so fast" Haiti, late '70s, and three wealthy middle-aged women enjoy all the sun, sand and the sex that the island can offer - as long as they have the cash to woo the men on the beach. The initial fun and frolics soon dissipate as Ellen (Rampling) and Brenda (Young) jostle for position to gain the attention of the handsome Legba (Cesar) - a native islander. Through their jealousies and petty squabbling, the small happy holiday community turns into something darker as Legba's private life comes to the fore.
Heading South is a movie of two parts - the first sees these neglected, unfulfilled women lie on the beach smoking grass, drinking cocktails and enjoying the attention they get from these striking, naked men who fawn over them and treat them like goddesses. The second part is reality crashing down on their little Garden of Eden. Despite the heat there is coldness, although there is fun, sadness prevails, as we know that these women are only papering over the cracks in their lives. Baby Doc's dictatorial regime is only glimpsed at and this is the point Cantet is trying to make - although they pretend to themselves that they fall in love with these men, Ellen and Brenda only want what the fantasy Legba and his friends offer and refuse to see past their sunny exterior and into the horrors of their private lives as the men struggle to make ends meet when these women aren't around. To that end, we, the viewer, are the women in Heading South. We know about the horrific circumstances these poor countries endure but we look the other way and order another round of drinks.

Review by Gavin Burke