Bent
by Sean Mathias
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Clive Owen, Ian McKellen, Jude Law, Lothaire Bluteau, Mick JaggerDirector: Sean Mathias
Brand: BLUTEAU,LOTHAIRE
Producer: Michael Solinger
Producer: Dixie Linder
Writer: Martin Sherman
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 105 minutes
Published: 2003-06-01
DVD Release Date: 2003-06-03
Audience Rating: NC-17
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Movie Reviews of Bent
Movie Review: Crucified by the Gestapo
Summary: 5 Stars
BENT has an all-star cast that stars British actor ("Derailed" star), Clive Owen as the movie's resident hero and lost soul, Max. Music legend, Mick Jagger has a small part playing a female impersonator who disappears after the first 15 minutes. Lothaire Bluteau plays sentimental Horst, and Brian Webber is poor, innocent Rudy.
Even though the movie is ten years old I never heard of it until last week. It's still an awesome movie because it tells such a powerful story. BENT tells the tragic tale of two homosexual men in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany during the 30's. When I first heard of this movie I thought that BENT was a weird title. But I think that after watching it anyone will agree that it's a very appropriate title.
The first 30 minutes of the movie are somewhat slow-moving. It shows Berlin before Nazi Germany took over. As you know, during this time in Berlin men danced with men and women danced with women and all were free to be happy and gay. At first sight, it's almost reminiscent of the classic film, "Grand Hotel." And I soon wished that there would be some dialogue and something interesting to watch because it seemed like the beginning was really dragging on.
Max was a foolish man to bring home another man that he met the night before, Wolf (played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.) Sadly, when the Nazis break in, Wolf's demise is quick and brutal.
Max and Rudy try to get out of Germany because they are both homosexual men living in a country that wants them treated in the most inhumane ways possible. In the concentration camps homosexual men are the very, very lowest of the low. So, Max and Rudy have to sleep in the woods, or as Rudy calls it, the "jungle" while they race for a way out of Germany. As Rudy embraces Max to profess his love the Nazis come running towards them.
Both men are put on a train heading to a concentration camp. I don't want to give too much away but the train scenes are among the most vulgar and hardest to watch. I can't imagine that hell is any worse than what my gay brothers and sisters had to go through during the Holocaust. I think this movie was originally rated NC-17, and although I am very grateful that this story is being told I am also grateful that I only watched the cable TV version (which was still sad enough.)
Max has to tell the Gestapo that Rudy is not his friend (i. e. lover); for his own (temporary) safety. Clive Owen gave an especially momentous performance during the train scenes because it was obvious that he was trying to get Rudy out of his head (but could not.) Max first meets Horst on their "train trip to purgatory" and Horst tells him that he must not get close to anyone if he wants to survive in this place. Now I know why this picture is called BENT.
At the concentration camp, Max bribed one of the guards so he could work with Horst. Their mundane job is to move huge boulders back and forth, all day. The only purpose of this task is to make them emotionally and physically weak.
Even under such adverse conditions, Max and Horst fall in love. But they can never touch each other or even look at each other. They can never hold one another's hand or feel the other's breath. If one of the Nazis saw either man in even the most innocent intimate embrace or even having casual contact he would surely be dead.
So, instead both men talk to each other. They have a love affair in their minds. My favorite parts are when Max and Horst were working alone and able to talk to each other. At least in their minds they could love each other and not be afraid of the consequences.
Clive Owen's performance in this film was absolutely perfect. I am not an actor, but maybe it's easier for actors to act when they are surrounded with talent, and the rest of the cast was also flawless. Max totally reminded me of Ennis Del Mar. Both men had so much pent-up self-hate. However, Max's was much more fundamental, and twisted. It became evident that the abuse the Nazis inflected on Max's mind was just as brutal and barbaric as the physical corruption that they generously dished out. Clive Owen should've gotten an Oscar nod for his portrayal of Max. (I guess in 1997 it wasn't politically correct to give gay movies Oscars?)
Why is BENT so tragic and sad? Because it is true. The movie's realism will haunt you for days (or even weeks.) The characters are fictional, but be assured it did happen. This movie reminded of a very powerful book, "Behold A Pale Horse." This was a book based on true events which also describes a gay love story during the Holocaust.
Who do I recommend this movie to? Anyone. Not just the gay community, but to all of humanity. Anyone that has any feeling will bleed for these poor men: Wolf, Rudy, Max, Horst; and the thousands and thousands of homosexuals that were tortured and murdered for no other reason than for being born gay.
Summary of Bent
Follows the treatment of homosexuals in a Nazi concentration camp as one prisoner tries to survive by denying his homosexuality.Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: NC17
Release Date: 7-SEP-2004
Media Type: DVD