Anyone notice. . .


The blatant homosexual overtones in the scenes between Marcel and Lili?

I was gonna get a flat bottom but the girl at the boat house didn't have one.

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Hehe... I was waiting for that one to show up one day... NO
Simple cultural differences, what you see as "homosexual" is just seen as "friendly" in other places and cultures.
I personally find some people from northern europe or north-america quite cold and distant... again, cultural differences.

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I did notice, but then i remembered that it was a french movie and i was in a french class. More interesting I thought was the random baithing nude scenes between all the boys which i did NOT expect in a high school class. I understand that there little and its ok, it was just unexpected thats all.

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Lol, my sister commented after we watched this that she kept expecting a 'Brokeback Mountain' scene between the two boys, and I have to say, there was definately something there. I mean, how many times do you need to turn to your friend and say 'You're really fantastic, you're really superb'? And all those intense looks they gave each other in the rain? Ahhh...Also, in the sequel, Lili gets really jealous over Marcel's new girlfriend, its rather cute. So yeh, I saw something there.

The French Are Glad To Die For Love

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We were watching this in my French class (I enjoyed it, by the way). When Lilli and Marcel first met and their faces were like within inches of each other, my friend Mick and I both looked at each other and, at the same time, said "Brokeback Mountain!". Kinda funny and spontaneous. Throughout the rest of the film, we were noticing more and more and more weird tension between the two. I agree that the overtones were huge. I don't think it's a difference of culture... this was pretty blatant.

-Joe
2006:
Southland Tales - American Dreamz - Romance and Cigarettes

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Not likely, French people tend to be very affectionate, kissing (even in public places) is considered perfectly normal among close friends, no matter the gender.

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I wonder if there will ever be a time when we as a culture won't immediately think "Brokeback Mountain" whenever there is any kind of homoerotic undertone in a film.

Just a note, Provencaux have a different sense of personal space than Americans.

cras amet qui numquam amavit; quique amavit cras amet

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Anyone noticed the time the movie plays? Morons...

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Well, it must be a cultural thing cause i didn't notice (i live in the country just north of france, belgium) I have family in the south of belgium and in the north of belgium. It's a small country but there is a difference between the behaviour in the north (more distant) and the south (more like the french). What is shown in the movie is just the way people behave in the south of france. Men kiss each other on the cheeks there also. Nothing sexual going on.
And as for the bath scene:it's normal for movies here in europe to depict people nude in a matter of fact way. It's just part of life, no? I've seen some norwegian kids movies with scenes where the child accidently bumps into his father naked in the bathroom. What's wrong with it? It's not meant sexually. Like eating and going to school, this is a part of life: when you live in a family you're bound to see them naked some time during your life.

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[deleted]

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Are you serious? You really need to get out and explore the world a bit more. Nudity does not always equal sex.

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What, is it a crime for guys to have good friends?? It's FRIENDSHIP. And they're like 11 years old!

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I totally agree with you! I mean, for christ sake! They are KIDS!!! I hate people who must find sexual aspects in everything!

dyl711, your comment is like one of the most stupid things that I have ever read.

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Not really. No.

"It's not who I am underneath. It's what I do that defines me." -Batman Begins <3

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Well I'm from the south of France and the first time I saw this movie,I didnt even think anything of that. It's true that everybody now see homosexuality everywere , its depressing. Lili was sort of the oposite of Marcel , Marcel had a lot of admiration for Lili. If you read the book you can clearly see the relationship of the two was nearly like two lost brothers who had found each others ,there is nothing gay going on,they are freakin 10 years old!!!!

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I think it's kinda worrying if you can look at an innocent film with two pre-teenage boys and start thinking sexually. As OliverGbyrne says, they were kindred spirits.

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Fantastic film, and I did not notice till this message came up connecting it to homosexuality.

A simple film about lifestyle which will never return.

I have just bought the follow up film, and I hope they continue their innocent friendship in it.

Civility Not Servility

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In my opinion, the scenes between Marcel and Lili depict strong affection/love of two friends but nothing sexual. It's important to remember there are many kinds of love (for all of us), and that these characters are pre-adolescent. They are sharing wonderful adventures together, each letting the other into his world.

At the time the story takes place, exposure/information about different ways of life (NOT referring to sexuality here) were much more limited than ours: no movies, no TV, no internet. Marcel at least has access to books where he might encounter foreign ideas (e.g., we see him reading Robinson Crusoe) but the impression is that Lili's access to such is more limited and therefore, his wonder at Marcel's descriptions of city life that much greater. Lili, in turn, teaches Marcel about life in the country, and broadens his horizons. So it's easy to see that this sharing would lead to a strong bond between the two.

As for the nudity, I concur with the other postings that this is normal in the context of the story (and a normal part of life for many people). There are many places in Europe, as well as Japan, where nude public bathing is an accepted part of the culture. Sex and sexuality are also normal and have their place as well, but not all nudity confers a sexual overtone.


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Can't say I did. There relationship was purely platonic, filled with innocent curiosity about eachothers way of life. It was particularly moving how Lili supported his friend through his temporary heartbreak.

Skills!

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