The scene of 3 brothers sleeping together

The camera lingers over the actors in seemingly quite exploitative ways, however I felt there was merit in this. The image is quite adoringly homo-erotic but that's not the only intention. In my opinion Christophe remains clothed throughout the film except for this one scene but even then he is concealed by Marc and Olivier. To me this was meant to convey Christophe's open character and the idea that he responds and reacts and is open enough not to require a reveal of his physique. However, Marc’s abrupt and conflictingly passive aggressive nature requires that kind of adoration in order for the audience to witness the truth of him, his body and his physical beauty being more noticeable than the real him. With regards Olivier, he at first seems too young for anyone to be looking at him in that way but then he is revealed as having the body of a man, therefore demands that the audience treat him as such and as the film progresses the audience is able to. I did find the plausibility of that scene questionable as well as the Dad watching over them so I chose to look at that scene as a metaphor for all the above.

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I was a bit uncormfortable when I watched that scene. After thinking about it a bit, in some cultures it is not uncommon for brothers to sleep in the same bed when they are children, although I'm not sure why they were naked - maybe it was hot outside :) (As for the Olivier having a hard-on, I don't think so.) The father is clearly awake, maybe thinking about the good old days when they were kids and life was simple. Parents do love to watch their kids sleeping....

This being said, your analysis is interesting - the positioning of the brothers foreshawdowing their various sexualities...

That scene at first view left me wondering for a minute. But after watching that scene again (and the events prior and after) I figured it out. The brothers had jumped in the river fully clothed as the other guys hanging out with them at the river had done. (Remember that the three brothers were sitting on a river ledge watching the others jump around in the river.) Arriving home drunk, stoned and being totally soaked, they (being brothers who had probably seen each other naked) shed their wet clothing, collapsed on the sofa/couch-either to talk or rejoice at being together again, passed out and fell asleep naked. Their father, unable to sleep, came into the living room possibly aroused by the commotion coupled with the concern of his children being (or not being) safe at home (and as another poster mentioned, had to look at his children sleeping (as most parents like to do)), proceeded to sit down, look at his children and contemplate. I think the father watched them peacefully sleeping, remembering when they were younger, innocent and manageable. The father's steady gaze and gradual closing of his eyes indicated to me that he was glad that his sons were home and safe but was indicative of his sadness of missing the closeness he once had with them since his wife and their mother had died.

It's very common for N African brothers to sleep together - indeed for Arab siblings in general; it's mainly a function of lack of space. Physical closeness is also not an issue amongst Arabs. Having said that, it's rather common for them to have sex together, the elder generally being active with a younger one, who will in turn be active with a younger brother and so on. Most adolescents put what they've learned to use with their younger mates at school. Although homosexuality is frowned upon, young people going through a phase is not generally seen as a terrible thing - and sex with another man is seen as almost acceptable as long as one is known to take the active role.