No Luck for "Vintner"?

Back in 2007 a reader post here on AfterElton.com drew attention to a planned film adaptation for Elizabeth Knox’s novel, The Vintner's Luck.

“According to blurbs about the book it seems to have a homoerotic aspect -- the novel covers 55 years in the life of a French vintner…who, one day early in the 19th century, finds an angel…in his vineyard, and they met every year thereafter…apparently becoming lovers at one point!”

Finally, two and a half years later the film had its premiere last week at the Toronto International Film Festival.

From New Zealand writer-director Niki Caro (Whale Rider, North Country), The Vintner’s Luck stars Belgian actor Jeremie Renier (L’Enfant, Summer Hours) as the peasant-turned-winemaker, and Gaspard Ulliel (Hannibal Rising, Paris, je’taime) as the angel.  Personally, I’d not heard about this film until now, which in his BEST.GAY.WEEK.EVER! back on May 31, 2007, AfterElton.com editor Michael Jensen described as reportedly being an “epic love affair.” Other than that, not much notice in the press seems to have been given to the film adaptation's potential gay audience appeal. 

Jeremie Renier (left) & Gaspard Ulliel

For example, check out this review From Dark Horizons: “Sex, lust, wine and angels are mere facets of Niki Caro’s lush and sensuous period drama The Vintner’s Luck,” says the review describing the peasant’s desire is to make wine. How he marries “the fiery Celeste” (played by Whale Rider’s Keisha Castle-Hughes), meets the angel and what ensues afterwards. However, the only mention indicating there might be an element of anything gay comes when the film is described as seeming “more European with its frank exploration of sexuality and eroticism.” 

The film's gay element was also downplayed in Variety's less than favorable review: “New Zealand writer-director Niki Caro delivers her least impressive vintage with this drearily literal-minded adaptation of The Vintner's Luck, Elizabeth Knox's novel about a 19th-century French peasant who receives celestial guidance in matters of love and winemaking.” 

The review goes on to describe the angel as being played by “a fey Gaspard Ulliel,” and mentions the winemaker’s “confused (and confusing) attractions to both Xas and Aurora.” The female Aurora is played by Vera Farmiga (of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas).

Renier and Vera Farmiga

Again, if one wasn’t particularly good at reading between the lines, neither of these reviews would indicate that there’s the least bit of “homoeroticism” in this film. And while I haven’t seen it, what about these two mentions is going to pique my interest as a gay man? Is this yet another case of the mainstream media “protecting” non-gay audiences from material they might deem offensive?

Maybe I’m overreacting. Maybe the gay element has been left out/limited in these reviews as it’s “not a big deal.” Still, anyone who has read Knox’s novel, I assume, is going to expect a little man-on-angel action. Judging by these reviews, I’m wondering if they’re going to get it? (I certainly hope this film isn’t another Mysteries of Pittsburgh.)

View the trailer for a shot of a hunky, shirtless Renier. If you look closely, you might catch a glimpse of some man-on-angel action! (It’s seriously hard to tell if it’s even there.)