Andre (Thibault Vicon) is a brilliant and charismatic literature student at the Sorbonne. In the opening scene of this mesmerizing film directed by Emmanuel Bourdieu, he impresses his class with a witty and improvised speech about writing. Those most taken with him are two new students, Alexandre (Alexandre Steiger) and Eloi (Malik Zidi). Andre, whose room is filled with books he is always quoting, takes these two young men under his wings. He manages in a short period of time to convince Alexandre that he should be in theatre and to suggest a course of study for Eloi, whose mother (Dominique Blanc) is a famous writer.
Andre is fond of the Karl Kraus quote "Why do some write? Because they're too weak not to." He ridicules another literature major when he has a piece published just to impress Marguerite (Natacha Regnier), a lovely librarian. And when he begins having sex with this young woman, he pulls a fast one in an effort to tame her literary ambitions. He cannot believe that a person without any abiding interest in literature could write anything of value.
Poison Friends is a richly developed character drama about the kind of larger-than-life character who uses his energy and arrogance to lift up the spirits of more timid and hesitant souls around him. Andre has many character flaws, not the least is his inveterate lying. But there is something about him that makes him an inspiring mentor to Alexandre and Eloi. After a turning point confrontation with Professor Claude Mortier (Jacques Bonnaffe) over his thesis, Andre bids farewell to his friends and heads off to Berkley where he will continue his studies.
It takes Eloi and Alexandre a long time to discover their mentor's true colors. But meanwhile, Eloi's mother retrieves a novel he threw in the trash and convinces her editor to publish it, much to her son's dismay. Meanwhile, he struggles to establish a relationship with Marguerite who has never forgotten Andre's blow to her literary aspirations.
The screenplay by Bourdieu and co-writer Marcia Romano presents a nuanced look at the power wielded by Andre as a benevolent one who in the end actually helps his friends begin to achieve their dreams. Of course, in the process he loses what is most precious to him, thanks to his malevolent love of lying and controlling others.
Screened at the 44th New York Film Festival, October 2006
