"Lie with Me" (2022) is a French romantic drama film directed by Olivier Peyon, based on the autobiographical novel "Arrête avec tes mensonges" by Philippe Besson. The film delicately explores themes of first love, memory, loss, and reconciliation, particularly focusing on a past same-sex relationship and its lasting emotional impact.
The story follows Stéphane Belcourt, a successful middle-aged writer, who returns to his hometown in southwestern France after decades away to participate in a commemorative event for a local cognac distillery’s 200th anniversary. This trip unexpectedly reconnects him with Lucas, the son of his first love, Thomas Andrieu—a relationship that profoundly shaped Stéphane’s life but ended in heartbreak.
As Stéphane and Lucas begin to interact, painful and tender memories of his teenage romance with Thomas resurface. Through flashbacks, the audience witnesses the intensity of Stéphane and Thomas’s secret relationship in the 1980s—marked by passion but also by the shame and fear of being discovered in a small, conservative town.
While Thomas was unwilling to embrace his sexuality openly, Stéphane was left to carry the emotional weight of their love. Now, through conversations with Lucas, Stéphane confronts the unresolved feelings of love and grief, gaining insight into the choices and consequences that shaped both his and Thomas’s lives.
"Lie with Me" premiered at the 2022 Angoulême Film Festival and received critical acclaim for its sensitive storytelling, strong performances, and poignant portrayal of love and memory.
Guillaume de Tonquédec delivers a moving performance as the older Stéphane, while Victor Belmondo (grandson of famed actor Jean-Paul Belmondo) brings nuance to the role of Lucas. The film’s cinematography beautifully contrasts the warmth of youthful memories with the cool, reflective tone of the present.
Critics praised the film for its emotional depth, elegant narrative structure, and authentic depiction of same-sex desire and heartbreak. Fans of thoughtful, introspective romantic dramas like Call Me by Your Name will likely find "Lie with Me" both heartbreaking and deeply resonant.
"Lie with Me" is a gentle, reflective film that captures the profound effects of first love and the lingering questions left when a relationship is forced into secrecy. It’s a must-watch for anyone drawn to poignant, character-driven stories about love, loss, and the passage of time.
