MovieChat Forums > Les bien-aimés (2011) Discussion > some thoughts about the movie

some thoughts about the movie

posted 12 years ago by gayromeo2000
5 replies | jump to latest

I went to this movie in Norway as they have a period of 2 months with 7 diffrent french movies as part of a cultural rendevouz. I expected greatness but got above average. I am pleased to have seen the movie, but i think the movie was kinda vulgar at some times with to much skin and to much details around the sexscenes. I felt this was almost turning to a porn movie, even though i like porn movies doesnt mean i like it when i see regular movies. Second off all why did the daughter kill herself? and why did she end up in the bed with a gay man twice? but all in all a diffrent movies compared to shallow american teen movies and i liked the songs, so all in all i give it a 7 out of 10.

[–] Ged59 12 years ago

*some spoilers*

I think the French have a different take on sex and nudity than north Europeans, and it may seem like porn to other cultures. As for Vera's suicide- well, she never felt loved by Henderson, while the other French guy loved her but she didn't want him- so she was depressed by this. One of the themes of the movie was life-long feelings over love objects (her mother had it for her Czech man) and the profound effects of this on people's happiness. Perhaps too she felt too stunned by his having AIDS and couldn't live with this idea, as well as the fear of getting it herself - not to mention any baby that might be conceived.
As for being with a gay man, well hey, we don't choose who we fall in love with, gay or not.
This movie was light of touch and yet deep and profound on many levels in how it dealt with human relationships, from youth to old age, with an appeal for all ages. And the songs (which usually ruin films for me) infact added to it. A great film, I'd give 9/10.

[–] gapeach1 12 years ago

I loved the movie also - but was quite surprised at all the singing.

It was quirky but I like quirky.

[–] elyouki 12 years ago

By going to see the movie, I didn't knew that there was songs...
Finally, Songs are good transitions, and complete marvelously what the actors say themselves.
Deneuve, Mastroiani, Sagnier... wow ! isn't it?

[–] HarlowMGM 9 years ago

I believe Vera committed suicide because she was humiliated by his rejection of her even though from day one he told he was (basically) gay; it wasn't about AIDS after all he told he back in France years before he was afraid he might have it and that didn't phase her and only hours before her death in the hotel restaurant she told him how she had read up on AIDS and how it may be possible for him to father a child for her safely even with the virus and he rejected it outright. She clearly was hoping for a reunion and was mortified he had brought along his new boy toy to accompany him to the trip to Montreal. She was probably overwhelmed with her dream of a "reunion" being crushed, her long-held dream of being the mother of his child brushed off by him in a minute, and undoubtably the trauma of having flown into American on 9-11-01 pushed her into giving into her despair.

The whole concept of the movie is that someone usually loves stronger than the other person in a relationship, and many love affairs are pretty much one-sided - Vera's mother loved a man who basically just wanted her as a whore while she in turn basically ignored the man who was a devoted, supportive husband; Vera was in love with a man who wasn't in love with her while she brushed off a younger man who felt much stronger about her.

[–] cassandra_mortmain 8 years ago

i love your views on the message of the film. it definitely seems to highlight the fact that many times, we want something other than what we can have, that while francois is looking at madeleine with complete love and devotion, her heart has somehow always been stuck on jeromil even though he treated her badly. even though jeromil had it good with madeleine during their marriage, he sought someone else as well. many times desire is not logical; it can humiliate you, make you suffer or make you self inflict. vera and clement had a very playful, on/off relationship and though it was clear that he wanted her, it seemed like less of a big deal for her. she didn't seem pained but rather matter of fact whenever they talked about their failed attempts to have a relationship. for us, it is very clear that clement was in love with her, but she always seemed to look past him for henderson. and henderson, well, i guess he was more in love with safety and lack of risk than he was in love with vera and that's where his attention always was. it just makes me think of that symbol for recycling...the one with the arrows all pointing in the same direction in a triangle. we're always looking at, preparing for, bracing ourselves for the next thing and we're stuck in a continuous loop. i didn't expect to like this movie, but i was very touched by it in the end.