Amazon.com

Big Eden has won the audience awards at just about every gay and lesbian film festival there is. Henry (Arye Gross) is an artist living in New York but still carrying a torch for the guy he had a crush on in high school.When his grandfather has a stroke, Henry returns to his Montana hometown, Big Eden, where he rediscovers friends he hasn't seen in years. His high school crush has since married, had children, and divorced--and seems ready to take some very different steps with his life. Big Eden is one of those implausibly tolerant towns where lesbians kiss each other in public and old coots in cowboy hats try to play matchmaker with bashful queers. Still, it's this sweet warmth in Big Eden that has made it a festival crowd-pleaser. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (177)

Absolutely Fabulous!!! You Must Watch!!
What can I say, Big Eden is an absolute revelation of a film, the kind of movie that grabs you, pulls you entirely into its world, and rewards you every step of the way. It makes you feel good inside. You don't want to leave. It is not merely a great gay film. It is a great film.

Big Eden tells the story of Henry Hart (Arye Gross), a New York artist called back to Big Eden, Montana due to his grandfather's diminishing health. Everything about his journey defies the stereotypes you expect with this set-up. The townspeople aren't backward hicks. They aren't homophobic. In fact, Henry is the least well-adjusted of the bunch. I'm really not going to delve into the plot too much here, because I really feel that the more I say, the more I will take away from you when you get to discover it for yourself for the first time. Suffice it to say that Henry had a crush on a guy in high school, is conflicted about the unexpected reunion with Dean when he returns, and another character ends up interested in Henry. That's as much as I will say about the plot. The movie is far more about the people and their lives than the actual plot anyway.

Thankfully, Wolfe Video not only released this amazing movie, but saw fit to give it the full-on 2-DVD set treatment with writer/director's commentary from Thomas Bezucha. Listening to his commentary, you realize how much love and care was put into this movie. He took great pains to not paint the townspeople are removed from the world. They have the Internet, drink cappuccinos -- they live in their setting intentionally and fully, not because they don't know any better.

Arye Gross, who has been in too many TV shows and movies to mention, plays Henry perfectly in every scene. You just want to shake him and show him how many people love him and get him out of his funk. But he is just leading an entire cast that flesh out their roles beautifully. Louise Fletcher, who won an Academy Award for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, just radiates onscreen, fleshing out her character with a beautiful, loving aura that makes you want to hug her. Eric Schwieg brings a textured performance to Puck that will leave a lasting impression. And, even characters that could have delved into flat stereotypes are given subtle, measured performances like Dean (Tim Dekay), Widow Thayer (Nan Martin, who is an absolute scream and steals every single scene she is in), and Henry's grandfather (George Coe).

This movie has become one of my favorite films, and my all-time favorite gay film. It is about family, community, seduction, romance, opening up, letting go, acceptance, friendships, intimacy, and love. Do yourself an amazing favor and take a trip to Big Eden.

Eden on Earth
It's been interesting to hear and read comments about this film, from fellow reviewers and friends. Some of them center on "unbelievable, unrealistic, no small town in Montana would ever act that way." But they miss an important point about this film. If our goal someday is to build a society that accepts all people for who they are, then we need to support those positive images on our movie screens as much as possible. Thomas Bezucha's vision provides us a beautiful fable and beautiful images in the film called "Big Eden".

"Big Eden" is about Henry Hart, struggling to find the important things in life, realizing those things are in the community that raised him as a child. Traveling back to Big Eden, Montana, to care for his ailing grandfather allows him to confront issues in his life that he spent many years running away from. Landing back home, surrounded by people that devotely love him, becomes emotionally overwhelming for him, and his struggle only intensifies. Throw in his best friend/unrequited love, and new potential love in Eric Schweig's incredible performance as Pike. As Henry falls deeper into Big Eden's web, he finds himself discovering answers, and even more questions.

Give Bezucha credit for a gutsy script. Here is a gay film that breaks many rules of "gay filmmaking": there is no sex, there is no 20 year old cute boy walking around shirtless, no club scene, no drugs, no homophobic country hicks in trucks ready to pounce at first light. He gives us straight and gay characters who believe and act as people first, who are allowed the intimate, complex lives we all should have. He gives us a town that celebrates all the good things in life: companion, love, honesty, compassion, without fear of labels. Mostly, he gives us a story, some incredible characters that we absolutely love, and sets it in some of the most beautiful scenery captured on film in recent years.

Three cheers for Big Eden, it's one step in the right direction.

Sooo boring!
can the plot go any slower? and in the end you're given NOTHING. don't buy it, rent it only if you have a cupon for a free rental. because it's not worth the 4 bucks. sorry

I guess its how you perceive the whole movie.
This movie didnt really do it for me. I got lost when most of the sentences seemed cut-off or something. I was like were is the other half of that sentence..such as.. "I can't do it." You cant do what Dean; be gay, kiss a gay, be str8...WHAT?? I became pretty confused after that point and it seemed like I didnt know how to analyze a movie with a gay undercurrent. Now I dont know about others who saw the movie, but did anyone else say they were gay besides Henry? You had to guess their intentions. I didnt care for the Indian guy too much they didnt seem to be realistically right for each other, I was happy when Henry got on that plane and left Pike behind, Pike played wayyyy too many games to be old as he is. I tried to relate to him in loving someone who never noticed him, but when his admirer says "Stay over for dinner" you dont run. Idiot. I was tempted to turn the movie off when i found out Pike was gay and say forget the rest of the movie. Thank God I didnt buy this movie though or rent it I just borrowed it from the library. Saved me money.

ONE OF THE BEST GLBT FILMS OUT THERE!!!!!
I have to say that I was skeptical about this film but I watched it and LOVED it....the story line is one that has emotion and a real life feel to it...the actors are great and the ending is great. I would have to put this film in the top 5 GLBT ever! A MUST HAVE!!! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

not the romantic drama it thinks it is.
arghhh. this film is incredibly frustrating to watch. not because of the performances; overall the actors were excellent. the cinematography was at times beautiful, sometimes downright odd, but at least it was mostly interesting. it is in the screenplay where this movie fails. one of the most important elements in creating the necessary drama in a tragic love story is to fully engage the viewer in the depicted life and character of its leads. martin is a poolboy who is not so much irrepressible as just plain irritating. lucas is the rather angry and befuddled object of his affection who, after a painfully unbelievable courtship, eventually and inexplicably falls in love with martin. and throughout the rest of the film we watch as martin treats...well, basically everyone who cares about him...REALLY poorly. i find it difficult enough to believe that the initially straight lucas would ever want to spend more than a few minutes with martin, let alone totally turn his life around to begin a romantic relationship with him. not because lucas is mostly straight, but because martin is so miserable. i'm not wrecking any of the plot when i mention that martin is dying of aids. we learn within the first ten minutes that this is so. but since this is an essential element of the plot, shouldn't it serve some sort of purpose? martin does not give the viewer any revelation about life or death. we see no character growth. martin's relationships are actually quite dysfunctional and more than a little abusive. so what are we left with? a love story that doesn't give a whole-lotta-love.
the handsome jean-michel portal gives a genuine and intense performance as lucas. mathilde seigner is wonderful as well. marcial di fonzo bo is actually very believable as a bitter and irritating guy who totally stalks the object of his affection into submission. is this love? is this a deep and moving drama? it certainly didn't feel like it. and it's not the fault of the actors.

A straight girl's favorite French movie...
A genuinely moving story, The Man I Love (original title: L'Homme que J'aime) centers on the unlikely but potent romance between a straight diver and a gay pool attendant.
The film, in typical French fashion, invites the viewer to look outside convention and towards the deepest potency of true compassion by focusing on more familiar themes like coming out and AIDS. The film quickly draws you into the secret world created by the two lovers as they confront mainstream social expectations as well as grief, doubt, pain, and their personal demons. In the best possible way, the characters establish themselves as men courageous enough to love unselfishly and care for each other. Truly a subtle and striking film!

About the dvd
It seems nobody wrote about the dvd edition, so that's my main point here.
Well, the image is 1.78 non-anamorphic, but it's a very good transfer. The colors are very nice and it's quite sharp, perhaps a little diffuse, but very slightly, or maybe it's just some grain (I'm no expert), but I think it's in the source. But this is a minor thing, I really think it's good image quality. And the subtitles are optional, always a good thing.
About the movie, I'm mixed. I agree with the reviews that indicate the character motivation and other script flaws, but at the same time the actor who plays the main character won me over by the end of the movie. I mean it moved me, and I guess that's the point.

Another AIDS gay flick
If you've never seen a story about a gay man stricken with AIDS and a loyal lover in a tear jearker, then you may be able to tolerate this movie. Otherwise, if you're looking for a film with real sex, believable characters and plot, don't waste your time. The only redeeming feature of this film is the French sea town setting. The motivation for the straight diver's change of preference is totally absent. The presentation of the main character as more than a kooky, pushy companion is not convincing.

Just o.k.
Were it not for the beauty of the main character I would have not watched this movie. It's very predictable in the "I love you/go way no I love you" conflicts. That one of the characters has AIDS and how the lover reacts is nothing new either. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

'Nico and Dani'
When viewing 'Nico and Dani' I was keeping in mind:'This a foreign film'...This is a foreign film'...It has some trademark 'roadtrip buzz scenes' found in American movies.However, the little moments between Nico and Dani make
up for routine--'I got a secret, I gotta tell somebody,' independent films have to offer. Teenage crushes are usually more exciting
to watch because younger people are more opened minded about sexuality than most adults. I think that is why not too many adults appear in the movie.
The movie gives you insights like if someone was narrating their diary to you of what happened one summer and not leaving out those 'juicy details'your younger sibling was dying to read,and the emotional rollercoaster ride that goes with this age group.
It has good cinematography values; interesting/private conversation topics between best friends; and uptempo music from the country it was shot in--Spain and beautiful it is.

i mean what i say
a really sweet coming of age story from a different culture's perspective. set in sunny barcelona, its cast of characters are two boys and two girls hanging out at the beach (and bars where the fourteen year old gets served!), with the intent of one day getting it on. i found them all to be extremely beautiful people in their honesty and openess, and the depth of emotion that the director conveyed was astonishing. he took his time developing the characters in a curious way, i feel like i have four new friends. okay, i went and saw the thing twice, i loved it. i usually like movies that challenge my mind, but this one was totally different than anything i've seen. the feelings this film conjure up are what make it. the soundtrack is extremely well placed, with some songs in english. there are subtitles, but if you know a little spanish, the movie can be quite endearing.

Frank, honest, and realistic and a story to identify with
If you had asked me what I had thought of the movie half way through, I would have said I was slightly uneasy with it as a whole. What I mean to say is that there are just a few parts that you might catch your mind rejecting as too frank. I found myself identifying completely with the characters on my screen, and yet at the same moment feeling uneasy for some reason...

Luckily, I didn't stop half way through and the story worked itself out and developed into something to be remembered. As soon as the credits began to roll, I realized the reason I had an uneasy feeling was because the acting was so natural and real that I felt as if I was there, and since this is a coming of age story it brought back the same feelings I felt when I was going through the things I saw on screen.

The story is well written as a whole and portrays every character as actual people, even those with a smaller role. Nothing is over dramatized, and nothing is boring. It's life, shown in a way you usually don't see on film and showing an important part of life.

Another reviewer didn't see much in the cinematography, but I enjoyed it. Many times, the unique "set ups" and irony that you see when a play is performed on stage is lost when it is made for cinema, but the director did an excellent job of preserving it. Make sure and watch the "Special Features" after the film and you'll see what I mean. Not necessarily things you will consciously notice while watching the film, but they work to make the film what it is.

Others have said it is homophobic, which is true to a point. But I -like most- don't look back on my experiences as an adolescent and think how reaffirming everyone was and how sure I was about everything that I did. Homophobia is a reality for many people in their life and this movie doesn't brush that under the carpet for atmosphere.

If you've seen a lot of gay cinema, you will be pleased to know this is anything but the "same old thing" and I recommend it with 4 stars. If you're just exploring gay themed movies, you might should add this one to your wish list and check back after you've seen Beautiful Thing, The Priest, The Trip, etc.

oddly homophobic story of gay love
Dani, who belongs to an affluent family somewhere on the southern coast of Spain, gets a summertime visit from his old friend Nico. They hit on some girls at Nico's insistence without giving up their old pastime of krampack. When Dani realizes that he is in love with Nico, he begins acting like an idiot: he grabs at Nico's privates when he is having sex with a girl, tells the girl that Nico is really a maricon, then pushes himself onto the local mature, sophisticated writer but runs out before they hit the bedroom.

What I find insulting about this film is that the boys never say the "gay" word, but they express their hatred of "maricones" quite often. I don't mind the director trying to pretend that gay history and culture don't exist, but it is offensive to tell a story about same-sex love that simulataneously preaches hatred of gay people.

thoroughly enjoyable
there's nothing bad about this movie. the actors are adorable, and they bring an honest feel to their characters. the plot's not much, but the emotions are genuine. there are moments for every imaginable reaction. i laughed, smiled, and teared-up. i believe that the most fulfilling thing about this film is reaffirming that american teenagers don't set the standard for teenagers everywhere (thank god - i AM an american teenager, and even i don't like us), and american movies don't set the standard for movies everywhere. if you can find this movie, see it. otherwise, rent it. or buy it. whichever you prefer. ... Read more

Description

Stuart, Vince and Nathan are back for one last wild, outrageous adventure on Canal Street. But amongst the fabulous nights out, the one-night stands, the clubbing, all is not well. Someone's trying to blackmail Stuart Jones.Stuart is no one's victim. Now he's out for revenge. Big time! As Stuart fights back, Vince is facing a dilemma. Stuart's revenge is taking him on the wrong side of the law, and could even get someone killed. Just when it seems that they might finally get together, Vince thinks Stuart's gone too far.Will Nathan ever get over Stuart? Will Vince ever get his man? Can Stuart ever be stopped? In this witty, exciting drama, only one thing is for sure: No straight person is ever going to call a gay boy "queer" again... ... Read more

Reviews (11)

It doesn't get better than this, full stop
This is the best and most faithful depiction of gay characters you will ever see on television, full stop (to use the Brit's slang from the film).
Writer Russell T Davies knows the gay life and how to express it in a very unpolitical way. Russell got it right in his writing. The actors, directors, editors, sound, etc. hit the mark to make a glossy, polished TV show.
Forget the stretch it to the limit, superficial, they-missed-the-entire-point American Showtime version; this is the real deal. Don't get me wrong, the Showtime version is good, (I love Debbie (Sharon Gless)) but it has much more violence, with more sex and moves at a dull pace when you put it up against the British version.
Gay or straight, if you're not infuriated, saddened, moved or provoked by this show, you'd better check and see if you have assumed room temperature.
I found added insight to the series when I read the scripts
(amazon.uk) and viewed the documentary "The Boys of Manchester" on VHS tape.
Series 2, the finial episode is somewhat darker then the first series and the ending, WOW what an ending. You got to see it for yourself. Best money I ever spent. I'll be watching these DVD disks for years. (This text refers to the widescreen version series 1 & 2 from the UK.)

Worth watching for QAF fans
I thought this was an excellent follow up to the first series. Sure, it was a little outlandish at the end (the Thelma and Louise feel to it was amusing), but the characters are so endearing, complicated, sympathetic, and appealing that I still enjoyed every minute of it. I was disappointed and incredulous that there was only one disk in the box, as I expected to get another four episodes out of "Series 2" -- sadly, it was just one movie. But it did wrap up a lot of the strands from the first series, and I felt satisfied by the weird ending. For fans of the first series, I think it is well worth watching. (If you weren't a fan already, there's no point.)

I prefer this series to the American version any day of the week -- but then, I am generally a fan of British film and TV, and I generally hate American TV. So there's my bias. Also, I watched the British version first, so I was already digging the Brits before I started watching the American series. Brian and Michael were doomed from the start for me -- they just can't measure up to Stuart and Vince, in my book.

Nots as good as Series 1, but still rocks !
I bought the DVD and I know the series pretty well.
Series 1 was really original at that time and somehow darker than its US counterpart.
Series 2 is a kind of tale that aims at closing the series with a tacky but emotional twist.

I held my breath...
I found myself holding my breath at times during this final part of the series. The story line is bold, quite disturbing at times, even alarming. It's not happily ever after. But I LOVED IT. I couldn't believe how exciting it was. It's not what you expect. If you want a gushy love story, go back and read Gordon Merrick. This, however, may shake you up a bit.

Not for us
I have never seen the British version, but we liked the American "Queer as Folk". It was funny and real. Series 2 is a disappointment, the action seems contrived, and so do the characters. We couldn't believe a minute of it. If you are a fan of the American version you will probably have to have lowered expectations to enjoy this. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When a Hollywood heartthrob (Matt Dillon, playing a Brad Pitt look-alike) "outs" his small-town high-school drama teacher Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline) during the Oscar telecast, the entire (fictional) town of Greenleaf, Indiana, wonders if Howard's really gay. More to the point, Howard wonders, too--quite a dilemma considering his pending marriage to Emily (Joan Cusack), who's patiently tolerated a three-year engagement. While a TV reporter (Tom Selleck) covers the ensuing furor, screenwriter Paul Rudnick and director Frank Oz make good-natured humor their highest priority, turning the "crisis" of coming out into a laugh-out-loud spin on conventional romantic comedy. The result is a film that delivers constant laughs and a golden opportunity for its fine cast to show off their considerable comedic talents--especially Cusack, who deservedly earned an Oscar nomination for her hilarious performance as the bride who's almost as confused as her would-be husband. That Rudnick and Oz have made a great comedy that's both old-fashioned and relevant to the late 20th century is no small feat, but In & Out has no hidden agenda apart from its triumphant desire to entertain. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Unlikely High Comedy
Given the pretext of a modern 'gay' comedy and the phrases, "gay stereotypes", "queer smaltz" and "hidden agenda" all come to mind. Add to that the sensitive subject of a high school teacher in Indiana being 'outed' on national television and you would seem to have the recipe for an instant disaster.

Director Frank Oz and screenwriter Paul Rudnick turn potential controversy and a touchy subject into a riotous, slapstick comedy with some of the wittiest and funniest dialogue in years. Kevin Kline as the 'possibly' gay teacher and Joan Cusack as the insufferable and patient fiancee are in top form (Cusack was nominated for an Oscar). The supporting cast are all veterans and even Tom Selleck does a turn for the better with his acting.

There is nothing but hilarity, joy and even tenderness between the characters with unexpected twists and character turnabouts that will soften even the most jaded. This is worth seeing if only for Joan Cusack where with a mouth full of bar nuts runs screaming into the street yelling, "Is this the twilight zone?!" Yes, the ending is happy - even more so.

A CLASSIC
Kevin Kline stars as the soon-to-be married small town teacher who is outed by one of his pupils during a television appearance. these are merley the seeds to an energetic comedy where Kevin Kline manicially runs around in the film trying to prove that he's not gay. There is a superb cast here which includes a fine supporting role from Tom Selleck who plays an openly gay reporter, as well as Joan cusack, matt Dillon and Whoopi Goldberg. They all sparkle against Paul Rudnick's razor sharp scripts that bubbles with fast, furious wit. Kevin Kline puts in a sensitive, carefully conceived performance rather than settling for a stereotypical role. Consistently funny throughout - a classic. Highly recommended.

Hilarious! Kevin Kline at His Best!
I caught "In & Out" on HBO a few weeks ago, and I thought that it was a hilarious comedy. Finding out that it was written by Paul Rudnick, the writer of "Marci X" and "The Stepford Wives", and directed by Frank Oz. the director of "The Stepford Wives." They work so well together. The only reason why I could only give this movie four stars is because of the last scene. It was too long, and I have seen that kind of scene before. They could have changed that part a little. The best scenes of the movie come from the middle, while Kevin Kline character is becoming confused about his life.

Kline plays Howard Brackett, a high school teacher that loves his job. "It's my life," he replies sometime during the movie. He is just days away from marrying another teacher Emily Montgomery, and he just found out that a former student of his named Cameron Drake was nominated for an Oscar for his preformance in "To Serve and Protect" in which he playsa gay solider. On the night where he wins, during his acceptance speech, he says that he was influenced by Howard because he's gay. That leaves Howard, Emily, and his parents Berniece and Frank, at a halt. None of them knew that Howard was gay, and Howard continues to deny it. The press gets involved when Peter Malloy, a gay newsreporter, decides to find out the truth about Howard. As his wedding day comes closer, and Howard continues to be a manly man, and prove to himself and everybody else that he's not gay, while also getting confused about his life.

I like how the filmmakers handle being gay. There are some sterotypes throughout the movie, such as the gay characters moving their hands in a certain way while they talk, or just some of the dialog. Kevin Kline handles the physical comedy well, and the entire movie works because of him. Joan Cusack is hilarious as usual, but she can overact at times. Matt Dillon had a nice small part as Cameron Drake, and it is good that he is playing an actor who is not conceited, and always thinking about himself. "In & Out" is a very funny movie that I recommend to all.

ENJOY!

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some strong language.

An Actual Review
I bought this movie because so many people reviewed it and said it was funny. And I like Kevin Kline and Tom Selleck. Well, save your money, I laughed once. This movie was totally predicatable and disappointingly unfunny.

Could it be that all the people raving about this movie are raving about it because they are either gay themselves or gay-friendly, and would give ANY movie 5 stars for showing the gay lifestyle in a positive light?

If you do not want to watch a politically correct propaganda piece from ACT-UP, then skip this movie.

Dumb slapstick humor that is darn enjoyable!
I've seen this film about 5 billion times just because its light and fluffy and funny in that dumb sort of way that it can be watched over and over again because all it does is make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.And isn't that what you need sometimes? ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Absolutely Fabulous!!!!
La Cage Aux Folles is a hilarious French farce that spawned two sequels, a Broadway musical, and an equally good, but almost scene for scene remake (The Birdcage). Some people have said the film has stereotyped gay characters and that Serrault's constant screaming is annoying. I disagree--I found nothing offensive about the characters (gay men like Serrault exist, we've all met them!) and his screaming is actually very funny and brilliantly duplicated by Nathan Lane in the remake.

This is a great film, funny, touching, and simply wonderful. It was nominated for 3 Academy Awards and won the Golden Globe for best Foriegn Film. How many gay-themed films can you say that about?

P.S. Please ignore the R rating--the subject matter, which was pretty risky for 1978, has gotten rather tame. By today's standards, the film would easily get a PG-13.

One of the Funniest Movies EVER Released - SIX STARS!
American audiences tend to resist foreign films for some good reasons. Sure, its tough to keep up with subtitles at times, and yes, sometimes the translations are lacking the depth the filmaker intends to convey. But this is a film that can and should be enshrined in the Movie Hall of Fame as one of the funniest, most endearing films ever released. Audiences who are willing to put up with subtitles will quickly find themselves hysterical and at last, on DVD, "La Cage Aux Folles" deserves to find a new audience, a new generation that appreciates broad humor, with a few good lessons thrown in.

Americans are familiar with the story, since "La Cage" was turned into a successful Broadway show and then a huge money-making comedy "The Birdcage" featuring Nathan Lane and Robin Williams in the lead roles (not to mention a young Calista Flockhart of "Ally McBeal" fame and Dan Futterman who is brilliant in "Urbania.") But "The Birdcage" as funny as it can be, fades by comparison to the original, with star making performances by Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault as the leading cross dressing couple of the French Riviera. Where "The Birdcage" allows for broad humor that both confronts and appeases the typical homophobic US audience, "La Cage" offers no apologies, and rests on its own merits as a farce without limits. When Tognazzi teaches Serrault how to "walk like John Wayne" you quickly forget the language barrier, and give up on Robin William's own attempts to educate the shrill Lane in the English version. Somehow, the fact that these characters are French adds a dimension of humanity that is lacking in the "Birdcage." Even the setting on the French Riviera (versus the buff and tough South Beach in the American version) adds to the three dimensional aspects of the characters. There is a sleazy-humor at work here that has been toned down tremendously for the American version, and that can only be captured by a cast that is uniformly superb, endearing, and wonderful. Oscar nominated for its leading performer, Tognazzi, as well as its superb direction, THIS is one of the funniset movies ever made in ANY language. If you love Robin WIlliams movies, and enjoy laughing, BUY THIS FILM - you will be more than glad you did, and you'll find yourself literally hitting the pause button in order to GAWFAW your way through it.

If there were SIX stars for movies, "La Cage Aux Folles" would warrant six-and-a-half!

The Original And Best
Although The Birdcage (Robin Williams, Nathan Lane) was a likeable and entertaining movie, noting can beat the general sense of fun and style generated in the 1979 French original. Ugo Tognazzi stars as Renato Baldi, the hapless owner of the 'La Cage Aux Folles' nightclub, a dinner-theatre with Drag acts as the stars. Henpecked by the biggest star of all, the fabulous and temperemental Zsa Zsa (Michel Serrault), he attempts one of the biggest performances of his life when he hears his son Laurent is engaged to marry the daughter of Charrier, an ultra right-wing politician. He tries to create a loving, heterosexual family environment to garner the Charrier's approval, and his subsequent and spectacular failure makes for one of the funniest comedies of the 1970's.

What's interesting about this movie is that even though it centres on a gay couple running a drag club, there is very little emphasis placed on the drag acts themselves... Zsa Zsa does not perform any long, unnessecary musical numbers. Instead, director Edouard Molinaro focuses on the storyline, and it's here that the movie excels. Strong performances from Tognazzi (Renato), Michel Galabru (M. Charrier), Carmen Scarpita (Charrier's long-suffering wife) and particularly Serrault as the devastatingly annoying Albin drive this movie forward, and the produciton is full of vintage 1970's touches. The score (by Ennino Morricone) is wonderful, and the dramatic strings and 70's-style synthesisers impersonationg 30's-style orchestras create a perfect comedy atmosphere.

The fact that this is a french film, too, lends much to the final piece. The sibilant and rapid speech give Zsa Zsa's tantrums wonderful resonance, and Charrier's moralising takes on a whole new level of seriousness. He's more Gene Hackman than Gene Hackman himself.

This is a thoroughly recommended movie, even though the DVD quality is not the best (but still fine) and the extras aren't worth mentioning. Get it!

La Cage Aux Folles
Do yourself a favor - BUY THIS VERSION. AND PLEASE TREAT YOURSELF LIKE A KING - buy the La Cage Aux Folles II. The BIRDCAGE was like seeing a bad high school program. Of course if you are nuts over Robin Williams - what can I say - but he is just a minor player when it comes to the original European Cast. Nathan Lane could also use a lesson on being a gay man being a gay woman (even if he admits he is gay - he falls short). The second La Cage Aux Folles II will crack you up. I swear you will laugh until tears keep you from seeing the adventures they encounter in Italy. You have no joy in you if you don't love ZaZa's transformation as she becomes the dream of a man who falls for her hook line and sinker. Enjoy the ride with those lovely men. What a LOVE STORY!!!!

Good Movie, but I love the American Version better...
I am a HUGE fan of 'The Birdcage' and have been for several years, so I finally got a chance to watch 'La Cage Aux Folles', which, as everyone knows, is the French version and the original for the American 'Birdcage'.

I have been reading so many reviews here that talk about how much better this one is from the American version. I am going to give an opinion that is not going to be popular.

To be honest, I really liked 'The Birdcage' much better than 'La Cage Aux Folles'. Although this is a very good movie, the American version flows so much better. The actors, to me play the characters much better. This version seemed very choppy to me and did not flow very well from one scene to another.

I will say Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault did a marvelous job playing their characters. I can see why the movie was so extremely popular and still is today, as well as 'The Birdcage'.

I did enjoy watching this film, and watching the obvious similarities between this one and the newer version.

Everyone is allowed their opinions, and Although I liked 'The Birdcage' version much better (as I love the over the top performances of Robin Williams, and Nathan Lane', I still HIGHLY recommend watching this movie. ... Read more

Description

Unrequited homosexual yearning explodes in a coastal hospital just after the Spanish Civil War.Parental advisory: graphic violence and sex. Set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath, El Mar tells the story of three young friends, Tur, Ramallo, and Francisca, who witness a brutal killing when a classmate avenges his father's assassination upon another schoolmate, and then kills himself shortly thereafter.This secret will haunt Tur, Ramallo, and Francisca for the rest of their lives.Years later, the muscled, womanizing Ramallo reunites with his childhood friends when all three find themselves quarantined in a tuberculosis sanatorium.Ramallo, hiding a secret rent-boy past, bristles against the mandatory isolation.Tur, now thin and pale, leans on religious fanaticism to avoid acting on his sexual urges towards Ramallo.Francisca, now one of the nuns, helps ease the pain of the dying.Together again in this lonely outpost by the sea, they revisit their dark childhood and quickly become tormented by death, religion, and sex. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not bad at all
I have to agree with the reviewer who said that this film is more for the art film lovers. It ain't bad. The story line is a bit dull but not to the point of ruining the film.

What I loved most about the film is how Ramallo talks about the sea and how liberating it is but yet never goes to one to experience just that. Instead he finds that liberation in other ways like sticking his head in a fish tank. I thought that was pretty artistic in a way. You'd have to see it to know what i mean i guess.

The violence in the film wasn't all that bad either...C'MON! I've seen worse!

All in all, I'd recommend it. why not.

Amazing Cinematography! Beautiful Made
Don't pay to much attention to other reviews. If you like cinema, If you like to see artistic movies, beyond the superficial, If you estimate a good cinematography or just enjoy watching a concert of good takes and pictures, Then BUY this film! You won't regret it
It's maybe not 5 stars, the script and story are a little bit week, I admit, but not less than 4 stars, It's impossible to not be touch by the beauty and the imagery of this movie.

sickening violence
the violence in this film is really off-putting. it is a dreary story of some really unpleasant characters. it is quite sickeningly violent, as other reviewers have noted. these characters are indeed haunted-but don't let them haunt you!

Unredeemable
I gave this film a chance, watched it for about :45 minutes and was basically okay with it up until the point where the protagonist kicks a cat to near death.Later he drowns the same injured cat.It was very graphic and disturbing.The total sum was that this character, unpleasant to begin with, had crossed the line where he could never be redeemed in my eyes.Why even watch a movie to completion when you already hate the central character?I took the DVD out of the player at that point and threw it away.Honestly, I threw it into the garbage.No re-sale, no donation, just tossed it into the trash to save anyone else the anguish of having to watch this movie.Save yourself the money and pain of watching this movie. ... Read more

Amazon.com

French humor, which isn't exactly subtle, is delivered via an especially broad premise in The Closet. A nebbish (Daniel Auteuil) who works at a condom manufacturer learns he's about to be fired; with the help of his neighbor, he pretends to be gay so his boss can't fire him without seeming prejudiced. Then a bigoted coworker (Gerard Depardieu) tries to worm his way into the nebbish's good graces because he's afraid of being fired. In the wrong hands, The Closet could be ham-fisted slapstick. What makes this movie truly delightful is the superb understatement with which every gag is handled; even the sight of Auteuil wearing a giant condom tip on his head has an impeccable deadpan grace. All the performances are excellent; Depardieu's smarm is particularly delicious. Each scene takes a new twist of social discomfort and befuddlement in this winning comedy. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (29)

M.Pignon Opens Closet: Funny French Comedy about Sexuality
You may not know the name of French director Francis Veber, and his funny French comedy "The Dinner Game" (1999), but if you are fond of comedy, you might have seen the films like "Father's Day" and "Birdcage." Yes, the last two Hollywood outings are actually remakes of his works, and though not all of his films are masterpieces, "The Closet" alone would make you remember his name. This film is that funny.

Daniel Auteuil is M. Pignon, who has been working for a condom factory as an accountant for 20 years, now he happens to learn that he is going to be fired. Shocked by the news, he thinks of jumping from the window to kill himself when an old man living in the next room gives a tip; "pretend you're gay." For political reasons (and commercial ones too) the company cannot fire him as they are afraid of being accused of having discriminating attitudes. It succeeds, and M. Pignon is happy ... for a while.

Because unexpected things happen like chain reaction; "sexual harrassment" from his beautiful female boss (she has her own reason), sexual advance from his co-worker and rugby coach (he has his own reason, too), and so on. The story goes on with twists and turns, finally leading to the confidence newly established in M. Pignon.

Though the ending is not as good as it should be, and some parts are a bit incredible, the cast is so great that those flaws are all ignored in the end. Daniel Auteuil's dead-pan humor is always effective, and funniest is his face when he is in a parade wearing a huge tip of condom on his head. Also humorous is Gerard Depardieu, whose character experiences a total transformation.

"The Closet" has some satire on our attitude about sexuality, but it doesn't preach them. Rather, the film handles them with a lighter tough, which avoids the pitfall of being too gloomy or philosophical. The fact is, the film is too light for some; and clearly the director hesitates to push some interesting points the film presents. But "The Closet" should be about M. Pignon, who, just like the protagonist of the same name in "The Dinner Game," is about Mr. Everyman. His journey to a new life is what we see, and we enjoy watching. As such the film succeeds, and it is because of fantastic Daniel Auteuil.

An intelligent and amusing French comedy
Francoix Pignon (Daniel Auteuil) is fired from his job at a condom factory after 20 years, but at the suggestion of his new neighbour, Pignon pretends to be gay in order to sue the company for prejudice. So they send doctered photos of Pignon expoing his derriere in a gay bar to his workplace. But instead of backfiring the plan works far better than anticipated: with Pignon gaining promotions at work, earning him the attention of a female co-worker (who is attracted to gay men) and helping to reconcile Pignon's relationship with his estranged son. All this leads his homophobic colleague Felix Santini (Gerard Depardieu) to befriend him in order to keep HIS job.
THE CLOSET is a low-key movie, lightweight yet amusing, intelligent and emotive as well, with great performances from Auteuil and Depardieu; especially during their "shower" conversation, which is a real classic. Well worth seeing, but not as good as writer/director Francis Veber's earlier fim THE DINNER GAME.

There's good and bad
The performances are excellent, especially Depardieu. There are some genbuine laughs, but as someone else pointed out, it is a one-joke film, and there are parts where it gets out of hand, or tedious or unbelievable. See it, but buy it cheap or rent it.

Hilarious but relevent to today's issues
Daniel Auteuil shines in this story of a man who risks losing his job but fakes his sexuality to keep his job. Gérard Dépardieu hilariously plays a man who goes mad as he falls for another man who he thinks is gay.

The setting is a condom making factory. You can only imagine.

A very funny film that reminds us why the French are progressive filmmakers! Now we know that they can make comedy, too!

Brilliant
Well constructed, funny, and a sublime social commentary. It took so little... coming out of a closet never entered that changed people's perceptions and behaviors in such strange and powerful ways. Using this to its benefit, the movie makes some strong statements in a hilarious fashion. Well worth watching! ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Girls will be guys
First the good news: the acting, the makeup, the sets, the colors all add up to one of the most gorgeously campy looking films of all time. All three of the leads are very good. Having only seen Jack Plotnick in non-drag roles (Ellen, The Jenny McCarthy Show on MTV, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), I have to say he was very funny and his wig was perfect, but the real honor goes to Jeffery Robeson whose Varla (his off-screen drag persona as well) is so spot-on perfect that a few times I had to remind myself that this wasn't an actual woman. Even more amazing is seeing the male Robeson out of makeup (on the extras) as a nice-looking young guy.

The bad news is that as great as this film looks and is acted (at times, it seems to bring to mind Comedy Central's "Strangers with Candy" for the way the actors play many things straight), the film suffers from "Saturday Night Live" sketch syndrome: it goes on too long and runs out of humor steam. An hour or 45 minutes would have been sufficient for the film's running time. The plot gets stretched and by the time Evie's "speciamercial" revelation occurs, I wasn't laughing anymore. The sense of glee was wearing thin, and not even the pool party flashbacks could perk the film up again. Plus, the "naked" Evie was pretty gross and unnecessary.

All in all, a decent film with a generous portion of extras on the DVD.

Watch it!
I thought this movie was brilliant, ESPECIALLY for a low-budget project starring drag queens. Funny. Irreverent. Great sets. Great script. Great acting.

If you're uptight and can't take an abortion or rape joke here-and-there, than this is not your thing. But if you're an intelligent person with a sense of humor who is at least mildly urbane, you'll love it. If only for the sets. Or if only for the one liners. Or if only for the performances.

Highly recommended.

different? What an understatement!
This wildly unapaulagetic 2003 re-make of the classic, Girls will Be Girls is a mixed bag, but the end ends up saving a lot of chaos that the first hour brings. The movie was kinda funny, not drop dead funny but it has some witt. The movie is very different, direction wise and script wise. I think the story is good but most of the scripting is pretty weak (besides the amazing climax). Overall funny, but not quite worth the twenty-five bucks I paid, although the special features made up for some of the movies' non funny slow points...

Maybe the funniest movie I've ever seen.
Seriously, I just about peed in my pants the whole time. My roommate and I were watching this movie and couldn't get over how funny it is. There are some slow parts, and in general you have to really dig that trashy, dirty and dish kind of drag humor, but if you do, you will love this movie

Girls will Be Girls - Always and Forever!!!!
The story is about a young starlet who moves to LA and ends up rooming with a washed up alcoholic has been diva who may or may not have somehow driven her mother to suicide almost 25 years ago! Throw in another roommate who is single and barren, and searching for a doctor who performed a ... procedure on her. Oh yeah! And all female parts are played by men in drag!

I was shocked I loved the hell out of this movie considering it was made in someone's house and starred 3 drag queens. I am not a huge fan of the female illusionist, but here it worked to broaden out the already broad comedy! Seriously picture a real woman after being asked if she's ever had an abortion saying "Honey! I've had more kids ripped out of me than a burning ORPHANAGE!" No, only a man in a frock could deliver that and make you giggle. And giggle and laugh is exactly what I did in this whole film!

It's a hoot! If you like your comedy broad and crass this is your movie! And the special features are not too bad either! You get animated menus with the cast, deleted scenes, a trailer, and a pretty entertaining commentary from the director and cast. IT'S A SPECIMERCIAL! IT'S HUGE! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Luchino Visconti's adaptation of the Thomas Mann novel is the very definition of sumptuous:the costumes and sets, the special geography of Venice, and the breathtaking cinematography combine to form a heady experience. At the center of this gorgeousness is Aschenbach (Dirk Bogarde in a meticulous performance), a controlled intellectual who unexpectedly finds himself obsessed by the vision of a 14-year-old boy while on a convalescent vacation in 1911. Visconti has turned Aschenbach into a composer, which accounts for the lush excerpts from Mahler on the soundtrack (Bogarde is meant to look like Mahler, too). Even if it tends to hit the nail on the head a little too forcefully, and even if Visconti can test one's patience with lingering looks at crowds at the beach and hotel dining rooms, Death in Venice creates a lushness rare in movies. For some viewers, that will be enough. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Visconti's heart-breaking vision of unrequited love
When I saw "Death In Venice" I was haunted by it's images for weeks. To this day, I cannot think upon this film without again experiencing some of the original feelings that it inspired. This is not, without question, an easy film to watch. The dialogue is sparse and the music is basically limited to Mahler's gorgeous Adagietto from Symphony No. 5. Notwithstanding, never has the marriage of music and film been more vital or more atmospheric. Mahler's haunting music was seemingly composed for this film and the effect is chilling. Dirk Bogarde is perfection as the bitter, vitriolic Gustav Aschenbach, a man so consumed with what he considers ideal beauty that he welcomes his own destruction for a moment in it's company. The young Bjorn Andresen is, too, equally captivating as the object of Aschenbach's obsession. Even though his role is essentially a non-speaking one, what he achieves within the lmiits of the role is extraordinary. The beautiful and elegant Silvana Mangano is on screen too infrequently for my taste, but her contribution is nonetheless wonderful. At times I found myself enveloped by this film, as if though I were a guest of the grand hotel quietly seated on a wicker chair watching these events unfold before me. Venice has never been more tangible on film than it is here. Do yourself a favor and watch this masterpiece of a film. One warning, though; "Death in Venice" is a devastating film and it takes it's toll on the viewer. Watch it in the company of loved-ones and on a beautiful, sunny day.

Impressive and brave
I have recently re-visited Visconti's Venice after an absence of too many years and I am reminded again of what an impressive - not to mention brave - piece of cinema this was for its time, and continues to be.

Adapting this novella to film was never going to be easy, yet Visconti did a superb job, so, too, his actors. There are some changes from the book, with the first sixteen or so pages omitted, and I also found the film Tadzio to be more flirty than his novel counterpart, but these changes do not jar within the film.

What I found truly frustrating was that the video I have is not in wide-screen format and I did feel I was missing something happening out of shot - and I hate to miss anything in this wonderful movie.

This is not a movie for those with the attention span of a house-brick, but if you're in the market for thought-provoking and have a love for all things beautiful, this is a must-see. While the film runs for just over two-hours, it's not the sort of 2hr movie that has you checking your watch after the first hour.

Should the distributors see fit to release a wide-screen version on video - yes please, I'll have a copy of that, too.

MASTERPIECE!
Luchino Visconti's 1971 film adaptation of Thomas Mann's novel "Death in Venice" is nothing short of a masterpiece in every sense of the word. The more I watch this film, the more I realize how perfect it is.

For those unfamiliar with Thomas Mann's 1911 novel of the same name, there are a few differences. No movie that I'm aware of follows its original book to a "T". But the changes that Italian director Visconti adds to the story are intriguing and beautiful. I don't mind his personal touches in the slightest. Indeed, the film wouldn't be nearly as good otherwise.

The intuition to make the Aschenbach character really be Jewish/Austrian famed composer Gustav Mahler and set the movie's soundtrack to that of Mahler's 3rd and 5th symphonies was brilliant. I can't say if Thomas Mann originally intended the Aschenbach character to truly be Mahler in the novel or not?

Having the main character be a tired, worn out Gustav Mahler is a brilliant masterstroke of pure genius. We're left with a film that condenses everything brilliant that is Europe. Using Mahler's own music creates a depth and haunting realism to the film as well.

The casting in this film is extraordinary! You could not have casted a better cast to play these characters anywhere. The young man who plays the beautiful Tadzio looks like a Norweignean version of a sculpted Apollo youth. His features are those of a god. His silouette against the backdrop of the sparkling sea pointing out over the waters is one the most erotically charged scenes I've ever seen in a movie. It's breathtaking really, and one almost forgets the possibly taboo homoerotic connotations such a scenario is from the standpoint of the aged Aschenbach.

I have seen many films shot in and around Venice, Italy ("the Italian Job" most recently), but none have come as close to this as personifying the city and showing it as beautifully. In my opinion, Visconti's "Death in Venice" is to Venice what Fellini's "La Dolce Vita" is to Rome.

Foreign film lovers should not miss this classic. Travelers who've been to Italy, or dream of visiting one day, also should not miss this beautiful film. I may not recommend the film to younger audiences who probably aren't ready to understand why a dying man would entertain fantasies of a physical passion for a teen boy. In such cases, I would say the film is probably unsuitable for viewers under the ages of 15 or so.

The DVD has a nice picture in 16x9 widescreen for widescreen televisions and is compressed lightly with low grain and nice blacks and contrast. The sound is stereo and in the English language, so subtitles aren't necessary. The film is also shot in glorious color in a vivid but controlled manner. When I first saw this film I was sorry that it wasn't filmed in black & white, but now that I think on it, this story works better in color and the colors of this film are gorgeous. Venice always photographs well, but I have rarely seen the old city look so sumptuous as it does here. Some grade-A, top-notch cinematography went into the making of this rich and luxurious movie.

Obsession in the Time of Cholera
Based on Thomas Mann's famous novella, Luchino Visconti's DEATH IN VENICE is the account of a middle-aged man and his obsession with a teenage boy. Gustav Aschenbach, a German composer, (Dirk Bogarde) on holiday in Venice in 1911, sees the young Tadzio and his Polish family at the hotel where they are staying and becomes sexually obsessed with him. Visconti has the difficult task of keeping the viewer interested in this sometimes slow-moving film since there is very little dialogue here. (The man and boy never speak.) What Aschenbach is thinking must be shown by facial expressions and body language. Both director and actor, however, are superb in conveying what is going on inside Aschenbach's head.

DEATH IN VENICE is a beauty to behold. The opening scenes of the city are lush and beautiful; however, as the film progresses and Aschenbach begins his frenetic attempts to find out why many of the visitors are leaving Venice-- the city fathers are afraid they will lose the tourist lira if they are aware of a cholera outbreak-- the scenery takes on a sinister, deathly quality as the city becomes deserted. Visconti leaves no stone unturned in his attention to detail to create the mood and time period of this movie. Gustav Mahler's music (Bogarde looks a little like the composer) adds the final touch on this nearly flawless production.

Visconti is a master director.

Thank you for the DVD
This had been one of my favorite movies when I had seen it years ago in the theatre, but I was only able to get a VHS tape 6 months ago. Unfortunately it was a full screen version and while the movie was recognizeable, it lacked the impact that I remembered from the theatre.

This dvd makes all the difference. The sets and camera work are largely what make this movie work and the pan and scan used with the tape just about destroyed it. Now with the DVD, I can see that virtually every shot, set-up I think it is called in the business, is a work of art of composition and color. This is a film from Italy, a nation with a preeminent tradition in the visual arts and Death In Venice shows this visual sense to perfection. I have never seen another movie as artistically shot as this.

The plot and story line are very much underplayed and frankly many people I know don't get this film. The story developes, more than is told as in a conventional film. Rather than watching it, you live this movie. You watch it in delight at the what you are seeing and experiencing of being in Venice at the turn of the century. The story just sort of unfolds around around this visual experience, rather like real life.

While the picture quality of the DVD is very much better than the VHS tape, the sound is only somewhat better. Nevertheless there is less wow and flutter than in the tape or than I remember from the theatre. Unfortunately the movie predates the general adoption of stereo sound, let alone Dolby surround. Given the extensive use of music, especially Mahler's 5'th symphony, one can only dream as to what this movie would be like with modern sound. ... Read more

Reviews (90)

A small gem
A heartwarming comedy. The story of a boy age 7, who is confused as to whether he is a boy or a girl. He has a penchant for wearing his sister's dresses and playing with dolls. The boy, played by George Du Fresne is very endearing and radiates innocence, which remains despite hostility towards him from other members of his community due to his unusual dressing habits. The film has a similar type of charm to another French film 'Amelie', The lead characters in both films are quintessentially good and kind. Hollywood rarely, if ever makes films like this. When attempts are made they usually fall into the trap of too much sentimentality, too little understanding of the outsider, the oddball and the quirky.

The film is subtitled, but there is something poetic about the French language and the viewer assimilates the background dialogue as if by osmosis. In fact I could probably watch this without subtitles, despite understanding very little French, simply because the scenes and characters are so visually captivating. The film is topical as well, with the rise of the far right in France comparable to the bigotry that the main character faces from his community, due to their strict conservative values.

( review by Melchizedeck )

Adverse sexuality in society (Ma Vie en Rose)
Ma Vie en Rose is a provocative film about a young boy that urns to be a girl and the struggle that he and his family go through in order for him to find himself.

The young boy, Ludovic, feels so strong that he is a girl that he goes to extreme lengths to prove his sincerity. He wears dresses, make up, and watches a show that is equivalent to America's Barbie. He prefers to play with dolls than army men and dances over playing sports. Though Ludovic is anatomically male, everything he does is expressed as female. He even tries to kiss another boy. This action does not make him gay. Because he believes so sincerely that he is a girl, all of his actions seem normal to him.

The neighbors have a different idea of what Ludovic is. They call him "bent" and ban him from their homes and families. At first, Ludovic's parents are accepting and allow his behavior, but as it intensifies, they begin to worry and send Ludovic to a psychologist, who can offer little help.

Ludovic then goes to stay with his grandmother, the only person that accepts him for him. His parents are forced to move to another town after Ludovic's father loses his job, most likely because of Ludovic's behavior. After this move, his parents start to try and accept Luovic, but with little results and Ludovic starts to try and act more like a boy. Things seem to be going well, until a neighborhood girl has a costume party and forces Ludovic to switch costumes with her. Ludovic's mother flips out and tries to hurt him. When she is pulled off of him, she wanders the streets until she sees a 'Barbie' billboard. The billboard helps to show her what Ludovic is really like, a sweet, confusioned little boy looking for guidance, and she holds him for the first time since the problems began.

These reactions to adversity, in terms of sexuality, are faced regularly by a wide range of people. The film tries to portray them to the extreme, and does it well, making this movie on the edge of new generation of film.

Magnificent
I have never seen a more beautiful and innocent movie. Everything is realistically displayed through the eyes of a 7 year old boy, Ludovic. He believes himself to be a "girlboy" because god accidentally dropped his X chromosome into the trash which ultimately turned Ludovic into a boy. The movie is heartwrenching, but remains completely innocent. The whole atmosphere is innocense. I cried so hard while watching the movie. As the film progresses, Ludovic becomes less himself, choosing things based on other people's judgements than his own. He begins to become more timid, introverted, and tortured. His spirit is killed by everyone around him, especially his mother who supported him in the beginning. His mom cuts his hair; an asset that made him feel more feminine, making him vulnerable. The most painful scene to watch was when Ludovic went down the stairs to go outside due to the havoc his sister and brothers were causing. His mother sneered at him and asked "Where are you going?" ludovic answers that he is going outside to take a walk because his siblings are too noisy. His mother glares at him and says without any heart "It's not our fault we had to move" referring to the fact that Ludovic's "girlboy" tendencies made the neighborhood turn on the family. Ludovic stares at his mother for a second, then nods gently and leaves. His sadness really resonates. Ludovic is all alone, and no one cares. His brothers allow him to be beat up in his presence by the soccer team. His mother continually bashes him verbally saying that he ruined everyone's lives, and that everything negative was his fault. it's disgusting what society can do to such an innocent, loving boy. But it's real, and that's what is sick about the world.

i recommend this movie to everyone. you'll love it. this is the environment we let people survive in. it's disgusting how much negativity is pushed upon the fragile shoulders of little 7 year old Ludovic.

Ma Vie En Rose
What do you call a girl who would rather play sports than color? What about a girl who prefers shorts to dresses? Some might answer "normal" while others will answer "a tomboy." Nevertheless, tomboys are a common phenomenom who are fortunate enough to have no social stigmas attached to them. Find a boy who prefers to dance and wear dresses, however, and you are dealing with a sick child with homosexual tendencies. The double standard is both apparent and completely unfair. Ma Vie En Rose examines the role of sexual stereotypes in today's culture while showing how certain elements in society encourage conformity and inhibit diversity.

Seven year-old Ludovic is a boy who wants to be a girl. He likes to wear dresses and talks of marrying another young boy by the name of Jerome. Ludovic's family, who have recently moved into a new neighborhood, are embarassed by Ludovic's actions and struggle to suppress his transexual yearnings. Though Ludovic's actions are surprising to viewers, it is still more interesting to examine the panopticon his family is part of. Ludovic's father, Pierre, does not know how to best cope with his son's tendencies. Ludovic's sometimes embarassing displays of femininity threaten to derail his father's career, as Jerome happens to be Pierre's employers son (yikes!).

Those who assume that Ludovic is gay have missed the point of this film entirely. Sexuality isn't even an issue, especially at Ludovic's age. Ma Vie En Rose isn't concerned with Ludovic's eventual sexual orientation. The film is careful to keep its focus within childhood. Ludovic likes to wear dresses and makeup. He associates these things as the traits of women, and for this reason, feels he needs to marry Jerome. In an idealistic world, Ludovic would be able to enjoy these things without giving up on his masculinity. In the real world, however, Ludovic must unconsciously choose sides. He chooses the "feminine" because the restrictions of socialization give him no other option. This film is a bright (so bright in its use of color, it would make Barbie sick) and intelligent film which instead of asking why, asks why not?

Plaintive and dishearteningly honest
The representation of what is fantasy versus "real life" in this film serves to highlight the perception of how the transgendered main character, named Ludovic, comes to clash with the Parisian perception of what it is to be "bent." In doing so, Ludo brings his adoration of the barbie-esque Pam, his family, his friendship with neighbor children to clash with their societal vision of how gendered children should act. Some of his attempts to understand how a boy or girl should act play out as a comedy of errors with tragic results, have a significant negative impact on Ludo's life.

This film orchestrates commentary on the way in which the genders are impressed upon children via the media and cultural indoctrination; the way in which the female is surveyed by the masculine decision makers and how women affect their world through presence and men affect the world through action (surveyors/surveyed).

In summary, this is a difficult picture to watch without internalizing the strife the transgendered child evokes, and is a surefire way to heat up some discussion on the topic. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A sincere film that speaks of the Cuban soul
As, I'm assuming, the only Cuban-American to review this film online, I feel especially proud that my country was able to produce such an eloquent, intelligent and all around outstanding film. Many people unacquainted with our customs couldn't possibly begin to relish the cultural nuances that abound in this film. The slang, the attitudes and all-around mannerisms are unmistakibly Cuban and to me it was as if though I were watching a home movie of some old friends. Rarely, have I related to characters the way I did to David, Diego and Nancy. Jorge Perrugoria's Diego is a triumph. Anyone familiar with what's regarded as the quitessential Cuban homosexual (cultured, well-read, opera and ballet loving) will be able to savor this performance like a fine wine; it is absolute perfection. It is hard to believe that he is, in reality, heterosexual. He is just too, too perfect. The fact that this film captures the essence of Cuba is both a revelation and a devestation. One is made to see the crumbling glory that is Havana and it almost inspires heartbreak. Nevertheless, a terrific film through and through and one that I can't recommend enough!

Four stars for the movie, two for the DVD
STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE [Fresa y Chocolate] (Cuba/Mexico/Spain 1992): Used as an unwitting pawn by his pro-revolutionary colleagues, naive student David (Vladmir Cruz) is encouraged to develop a platonic relationship with flamboyant gay artist Diego (Jorge Perugorria), whose political allegiances have fallen under suspicion. But as their friendship deepens, David is transformed by Diego's resistance to the Cuban regime, even as the forces of oppression begin to close around them.

Though based on a short story ('El Lobo, el Bosque y el Hombre Nuevo') by screenwriter Senel Paz which explores opposite ends of a political ideology, knowledge of recent Cuban history isn't a prerequisite for viewers of STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE, a small gem from co-directors Tomas Gutierrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabio. Far from a mere political tract, this is a joyous celebration of life and non-conformity, distinguished by Perugorria's extraordinary performance as the camp but dignified Diego, who rejects his friend's unquestioning loyalty to the Cuban political system that is stifling their beloved homeland. Their budding relationship is complicated by Diego's unrequited love for David, depicted here with remarkable honesty and compassion, particularly for a mainstream film. But it's their political differences which ultimately unite the two characters, even as Diego is forced to reap the whirlwind of his public defiance. Much of the narrative unfolds within Diego's crumbling apartment building, where David enjoys a liaison with flaky neighbor Nancy (Mirta Ibarra), who introduces the inexperienced student to the joys of sexual liberation! It isn't a terribly cinematic film, but production values are solid, and the characters are so vivid, and played with such integrity, it hardly matters; this is a movie in which ideas take precedence over action, and the emotional payoff is quite powerful indeed. Beautiful music score by Jose Maria Vitier, too.

Now the bad news: Buena Vista's DVD version is incomplete, missing approximately six minutes of footage. Absent material includes a brief conversation about racism during David's first visit to Diego's apartment, and a sad little sequence in which the two characters pretend not to notice each other after meeting by accident in a bookstore. These revisions were perpetrated before the film's North American theatrical release by Buena Vista's 'art-house' subsidiary Miramax, a company which is notorious for the cavalier manner in which it treats its foreign acquisitions (their version of THE HORSEMAN ON THE ROOF is similarly incomplete). The alterations imposed on STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE seem completely arbitrary, and demonstrate little more than contempt for American audiences. For the record, the UK video version runs 105m 51s at 25fps in the PAL format, which corresponds to 110m 15s at the original 24fps.

There are no extras, not even a trailer (there's a puff-piece which trumpets Miramax's involvement in a 'golden age' of cinema, which is ironic given the way they treat their movies). So, four stars for the movie, two for the DVD, and only because the sound and picture quality are so good, despite a worrying amount of grain in the film's opening sequence. The running time quoted below doesn't include the Miramax/Robert Redford logos which open the US DVD print and weren't part of the original film.

103m 53s
1.85:1 / Anamorphically enhanced
Dolby Surround 2.0
Ultra Stereo [theatrical]
Spanish soundtrack
Optional English subtitles
Region 1

Where's the DVD???
I was captivated by this charming little film many years back, what with its setting, performances, humour, and all the little nuances that foreign films have mastered over their Hollywood big-buck counterparts.

My only complaint is why there hasn't been a DVD release of this movie just yet! With such vastly overrated mediocrities such as "Like Water For Chocolate" or "Babette's Feast" now available, it should only be a matter of time.

A phenomenally enjoyable film, whatever your personal preference.

Not a Bad Berry....
It's a good movie, but not what I expected. From the amount of foreign films I've seen, there have been some outstanding ones like Central Station, City Of Lost Children, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Like Water for Chocolate and Amelie. I guess I hold all foreign (subtitled) films to this high standard. The actor who played Diego, Jorge Perrugoria was wonderful though. He's one of those few actors that uses his eyes to convey so much internal action. Over all, I'm not saying the film was bad, but it wasn't one I'd watch again and again. First film from Cuba nominated for an Oscar.. *** stars

Wonderful film that transcends stereotypes
The Cuban film, "Fresa y Chocolate," is the story of friendship between a young student (a loyal member of the Communist Party), and a gay political activist, who is critical of the government's censorship. It is an amazing film for a number of reasons. First, it presents a balanced and somewhat critical view of the Cuban political system. This is surprising since it was co-produced by ICAIC, essentially the official Cuban film production company. Second, though the main characters start out as stereotypes, they develop into very real people who go beyond what the audience would expect.

Considered by many to have been a major catalyst in improving the treatment of gays in Cuba; this film presents a rich and interesting view of Cuban society. ... Read more

Description

For years, teenagers Gwen and Lise have enjoyed spending their summer vacations together on the Brittany coast, but this summer is different. Gwen's newfound interest in the opposite sex has caused a rift between the two, leading both girls to reexamine their friendship. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Superficial
Whatever happened to the glory days of French cinema like Truffaut, Godard etc, now replaced by unimaginative "realists" of the type represented in this movie. From the cardboard cutout characters to the inane "plot" this is a film that only teenage girls of 17 and a half could empathize with. This film do