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The Fire that Burns

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Synopsis

A very intense and controversial story of a priest who scrutinizes the close friendship and romance of two young boys in a highly-religious, regulated Catholic school.

A richly textured drama, The Fire That Burns is based on the novel “The Land Whose King is a Child” by prolific, French novelist and dramatist Henry de Montherlant. The story takes place before World War II in a Catholic boys’ school in Paris, where the friendship between bright philosophy student André Sevrais (Naël Marandin) and his younger schoolmate Souplier (Clément van den Bergh of Class Trip) arouses the jealousy of the Abbot de Pradts (Christophe Malavoy), who is secretly in the thrall of young Souplier. De Pradts lays a trap for Sevrais but ends up crushed by his own machinations to the utter disdain of the Father Superior (Michel Aumont of The Closet and Man is a Woman). (French with English subtitles)

Customer Reviews

The French Revolution evidently didn't go far enough

der alte wrote on 12/19/2004:

'El Mar' from Spain. and 'The Fire That Burns' from France, both replay in graphic detail, for those unlucky enough to have experienced it, the insidious and grotesque pariodies of affection, love and philosophy offered by a Catholic (christian) education.

The basic ideas of christian superstition, and it's more practical, political adjunct, fascism, had devestating effects on Spain, France, and much of Europe during the last century. They pose a challange to us in North America, as the christian right swings into action.

Both films offer object lessons in how not to live and love, and in both decent, honest people suffer in the clutches of superstition and violence. Neither film is satisfying because we want the good guys to win and then kiss and screw their brains out, but it doesn't always work that way. Maybe you ought to see them though, just as an object lesson. Like watching 'Bent' or 'Paragraph 175.' Not happy, but instructive.