Vers Le Sud (Heading South) Review
By David Kempler
Sex, Sex, Sex With Some Really Odd Couples
I'm a bad girl
Writer-director Laurent Cantet brings us "Heading South" a story you don't see every day at the multiplex. I don't remember ever seeing anything like it. Cantet's film focuses on aging white women who made annual treks to Haiti in the 70's in order to have sex with very young black men. Ellen (Charlotte Rampling), Brenda (Karen Young) and Sue (Louise Portal) play our three lusty ladies who are indulging in a behavior almost male-like. The native teenage boys, led by Legba (Ménothy Cesar), take care of the much older females, who nevertheless do retain some sexuality. In return for the sexual favors they receive, the women shower the young men with gifts and food and just about anything they want.
Running just below the surface of "Heading South" is "the message" of the horrible life people are forced to endure in Haiti. It is no doubt an accurate portrayal of the despair that permeates and engulfs the island. However, it feels exceedingly forced. This makes it similar to much of the rest of the film.
Rampling , as you may already have guessed, is the focal point of the proceedings. Even when the camera is studying the other women, there is always the specter of the dour Ms. Rampling reappearing at any moment, spreading her reserved, and at the same time cruel manner around. She has both in abundance.
Rampling's career has evolved into what appears to be an almost soft-core string of sexcapades. Since she is around 60 this is quite remarkable. Try and name another actress playing these types of parts. At this rate she'll be doing hardcore by the time she reaches 70.
"Heading South" presents a potentially titillating movie that somehow never achieves that status. It's hard to be certain why that is but in my opinion the movie never takes off. Even when the plot heads off in a new direction about two thirds of the way through, the audience is left with a taste of nothingness. When it ends, all you can think is "Why did they make it and why am I here." Nevertheless, you should stay to the end if you can stomach it. The final speech by Brenda is bizarre to the nth power.
