MovieChat Forums > Skoonheid (2012) Discussion > Did Christian know Francois' secret?

Did Christian know Francois' secret?

posted 11 years ago by MikeGrossman34
6 replies | jump to latest

I got the impression that he did. Recall that Francois got completely smashed at a gay bar in Cape Town and called Christian to pick him up. I sensed that Francois was in a gay district of the city and that Christian was familiar with that area, probably because he had partied there before with friends. That's not to suggest that Christian was gay or bisexual at all. He was demonstrative with his friends, even male ones, so it would be consistent with his characater that he would party with gay or straight friends and think nothing of it.

I found it peculiar that Christian went to Francois' hotel room and hung around. If the purpose was simply to make sure Francois got home, why not leave right away. Instead, he goes to the bathroom, has a drink, smokes a cigarette and sits on the bed with Francois. So what is going on there, I asked myself? Had Francois admitted his attraction to men, and specifically to Christian? Was Christian aware of it and using it to get money from Francois? Recall when Francois leaned in to kiss Christian and Christian leaned away, but did not get up or try to leave. Why not? Was something supposed to happen, and Francois took it father than was agreed?

Movies like this are so enigmatic becuase they leave so many details to your imagination.

[–] benman46 11 years ago

The reason Christian went back to Francois' hotel room was simply to borrow money as Francois was the only person with the amount of money he wanted. It was Francois who asked him to come back to the room to discuss this. Francois was at Greenpoint a gay area of Cape Town. Francois asked Christian if had had been there and Christian said he had with his friends. It is not unusual for straight people to go to gay areas to party. Christian never knew Francois' secret because Francois never came on to him in any way.

[–] MikeGrossman34 11 years ago

Yes, but I thought there was more to the body language than the dialogue. Why was Christian sitting so close to him? Why did he not get up to leave after Francois tried to kiss him? What was he waiting for? Was it just that he was so trusting and kind that he didn't want to insult Francois or jeopardize the sum of money he was going to get? And why would Christian NOT suspect that Francois might be gay if he picked him up at Greenpoint? Wouldn't that be an obvious giveaway? Perhaps Christian used that information as subtle leverage to get money from Francois?

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with what you said. I just think there are a number of inferences that could be drawn from the body language in that scene.

[–] lordofthelake 11 years ago

I think Christian was willing to trade sex, or perhaps secrecy, for money. Francois didn't reply to his request, and then Christian recoiled when he attempted to kiss him. At that point Francois figured he had some power and got violent.

[–] MaleManX 11 years ago

You can tell that when François tries to kiss him, that he takes it as a joke and tells him to stop. That's why he wasn't alarmed and didn't leave or try to leave.

[–] bbraat 11 years ago

Those were my thoughts exactly, Mike. If Christian didn't know earlier he would have figured it out when he picked up the drunken Francois. Christian didn't act like the attempted kiss was a huge surprise. It's also possible that Francoise's being gay might be one of those "secrets" that everyone suspects but no one discusses. Christian, used to using his looks and youth to take shortcuts, might have assumed he could get in the cage with the old dog and take advantage of his secret and drunkeness. Of course he never expected Francoise' next action.

[–] stanbrown32 10 years ago

I don't know that Christian knew Francois's secret--but when they were in the café, and Francois was rambling about how he could teach Christian how to keep it all together and not let things get out of control, about how family responsibilities had kept him from flying away, Christian just looked embarrassed. And Francois asked him if he partied in Greenpoint. I think Christian had to be getting a vibe there. And then he said he wanted to ask him something--and we cut to him going into the hotel room with Francois, and he's saying that it's a sure thing, Francois will get his money back, etc.

So he definitely goes to the hotel room because he wants money. Whether he was willing to have sex, or just to flirt? He recoiled from Francois when he leaned over to kiss him. He didn't run out--no doubt, he thought Francois had made a pass and wouldn't go any farther. He didn't expect to be assaulted.