by KEVIN LAFOREST

Based on the autobiographical novel by Dany Laferrière, Le Goût des jeunes filles is the story of 15-year-old Haitian Fanfan (played by Lansana Kourouma) and his unforgettable weekend. Montreal director John L'Ecuyer had only a $1.5-million budget to bring this story to the screen and, in his own words, was shooting with "broken equipment" in a foreign country (Guadeloupe substituting for Haiti) with a cast and crew who largely spoke different dialects of French. The result is like the little cousin of City of God, clumsier but obviously heartfelt and very evocative of a specific time and a place.

The year is 1971 and "Papa Doc" Duvalier's death is causing social unrest, awaking old pains in Fanfan's mother (Mireille Métellus). Her husband was murdered by government thugs, making her overprotective of her son. One night, trouble finds Fanfan anyway, when he and his hoodlum friend Gégé (Uly Darly) butt heads with some Tontons-Macoutes militia soldiers, forcing the boys into hiding. But sometimes bad things can lead to good fortune, as Fanfan finds out when he takes refuge at his neighbour's house and discovers the world of sexy young women.

The film's literary roots are evident throughout. Excerpts from Laferrière's book are occasionally narrated in voice-over, characters periodically talk directly to the camera and text is sometimes printed across the screen. However, the movie is most effective when L'Ecuyer takes a more visual approach, making us feel the warmth of Haiti through its overwhelming colours, festive music and the beautiful girls. He also shows a darker side to the country with all of its poverty and violence: Duvalier's gone, but he's immediately replaced by his son Bébé Doc, who proves just as cruel and repressive, and there are plenty of petty tyrants more than willing to do Junior's dirty work.

Le Goût des jeunes filles takes a few wrong steps, most notably the subplot involving a white photographer played by Dan Bigras, who doesn't cut it as an actor. Many of the other performances are uneven, including Luck Mervil (who appears as a Tonton Macoute), who's also a better singer than actor. However, young Kourouma's portrayal of Fanfan is involving enough to draw viewers in.

Le goût des jeunes filles opens Friday, Jan. 20

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