I agree that the movie is obviouly complacent and uses "day dreaming" as a pretext for showing pseudolesbianism in full virtual display for the sake of it (and not as a necessary plot point to make the spectator understand the transformation happening inside Adèle's mind about her own sexuality). Just watch the interviews in the special feature section and you will see what I mean: the director is quite hypocritical about the long "dream" scene which has been discussed above. I hate to think that the movie was sold based on the appeal the producers knew such long quasi-pornographic scenes would have to the male public and perhaps to straight females too (however, lesbians publically expressed outrage at how unrealistic the love-making scenes were).
The movie us lengthy and would have clearly benefitted from a massive editing out of lots of dragging. I'm well used to slow pacing and enjoy it when the purpose is justifiable. Here, one feels complacency once again. However, that being said, this is not a bad movie, rather on the contrary. What I did appreciate is how realistically depicted Adele's passion for her lover was. One seldom sees lesbian love stories told in some depth. The few lesbian love stories I've seen on the screen were little more than mere sexual display, and this movie courageously explored one passionate story to its conclusion, with all the pain and personal tragedy such stories involve when they turn badly for either or both partners. Of course, La vie d'Adèle was made before Carol, which is a far more sophisticated affair and cinematographic achievement. And yet, I have found the main protagonist not only believably depicted, but even more importantly, quite endearing from the beginning to the end.
To the OP: if you have not watched it yet, go ahead if you don't have too many scruples. As I said, the movie contains scenes of pseudopornography: there were no actual genital contacts, if you prefer a more direct way to put it. However, one might construe it to be pornography nonetheless because of the realistic end result (it is so well done you'd swear they are actually performing what you are looking at). If you can survive to it, the rest is a pretty good but lengthy love story and an interesting portrait of a modern young woman full of life and passion.
It is a total piece of crap, featuring stereotypical lesbians and poorly filmed grind scenes that go on forever. Unless you want to look at vapid, shallow French people shoveling spaghetti into their mouths and performing cunnilingus, is
To Falconeer: I don't know if you are aware of it, but you are a tad xenophobic, you know? I happen to be of a French culture, and if you read back what you had written, it is quite clear. Why add "French"? It's exactly as if you had added the information "black", or "Asian" : completely unnecessary, and only serving one purpose, i.e. letting slip out the inner xenophobe boiling behind your remark. It's not the seriousness of the insult (yours is a rather injocuous remark after all), it's the principle of feeling the need to emphasize that "they're not like US" And I know of only one culture that does that all the time... 'Nuff said.
- But you can't have her again as costume designer, Mr. Hitchcock!
- Really, Peggy? Give me Head!
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Falconeer
8 years ago
So I'm not allowed to speak ill of the French now? I'm not supposed to mention how pretentious they are, and their films tend to be? I'm not supposed to notice, as I travel through France, that the majority of the people are rude to outsiders, and seem to despise anyone who is not...French? Okay, I will try not to mention it, because I wouldn't want to sound like a xenophobe. However I'm happy that I am still allowed to have an opinion, even though I have been advised to keep it a "secret." And about the film; I still find it to be an ugly, amateurish, and very exploitative piece of garbage, masquerading as an "art film." As I mentioned in another post, search out the film "Show Me Love" from Sweden; it is, I believe, a much more realistic and non-exploitative film that deals with the subject in a much more intelligent way. I can surely understand why the lesbian community was outraged by yet another film that portrayed them as shallow deviants that live for sex. Because unfortunately, the sex is so pervasive that it is the only thing most people remember about this sad failure of a movie..
Fabio Testi is GOD
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feodoric
8 years ago
What I meant by the "xenophobe" remark, was that it was absolutely irrelevant to the movie, and your rant about France and the French people prove my point quite obviously. What would you think if with every review of a forgettable film such as the countless ones Hollywood delivers to the world evry year, critics would mention something like "yet another example of a self-centered, loud American couple failing at their marriage and ending up with a huge mess, etc." or "yet another variation on the theme of an American reconstituted family becoming the next meal planned by some gigantic tyrannosaur"?
Your problem is not your right to dislike a whole nation based on your own personal experience (talk about thinking you are the center around which the world revolves): no one in his right mind would ever think of denying you such a pathetic right. No: in clear, since you need it spelled out , the problem with your post is the irrelevance of your own personal view on the French people to the movie in question. That is what makes it xenophobic: an unjustified statement targeted against a whole nation. It would have been a whole different story if you had explained why the fact that this film showcases French women is a factor in what is making "La vie d'Adèle" such a piece of garbage (as per your opinion). It's quite plain to see just by reading your reply that you hate French people, and this, Sir, notwithstanding your right to say it, is something I find disgusting, I'm sorry to say.
If it can reassure you, you're not the only American (what else?) guilty of xenophobic display on an IMdB forum, by far and large. There are plenty of examples and each one makes me cringe because it is such a widespread attitude of borderline hate towards "the other people", and it tends to occur to Americans for reasons that would take a whole book to describe.. Do you even realize that a LOT of IMdB users are French? This is not a sandbox for Americans: it's an international forum, and regardless of the limited impact of your particular post in the big picture, the pattern is unmistakable, textbook xenophobia and I will always raise against that pattern. What leads to wars is not patriotism, not a noble fight for principles, not even religion per se: those are just pretexts and the factor that tips a situation out of its precarious balance. What leads to wars is always a visceral hate against "the other", against what makes a neighbor of a different race, color or nationality become the scapegoat of a whole group's or country's frustrations. History has been rich enough in examples that support this view which is even more a matter of common sense even than plain reasoning.
I hope you are still able to tell the difference between a specific case and its extension to a concept, or more simply said, to understand a metaphor, before you call the cavalry to your rescue. I didn't want to start an endless exchange of blows. I managed to remain polite and respectuous and I hope you will exchange the courtesy, in case you can't understand my point.
Honni soit qui mal y pense.
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Falconeer
8 years ago
I'm very sorry, but I stopped reading your reply when you suggested that I was American. I'm not, and how wrong you are for making such blind assumptions. Who is the xenophobe now? You assumed that, just because I am opinionated and not a fan of the French, that I had to be "American.." Absolutely classic...sounds like the pot calling the kettle black. You sound very xenophobic when it comes to your harsh opinion of Americans; however I don't have a particularly high opinion of Americans either, so I can overlook your blatant xenophobia. By the way, I detest 'Hollywood' and the garbage that it spews forth onto the World month after month. And in case you are curious; I am in Beirut, Lebanon, where I have lived most of my life, other than some time spent in Germany and Turkey. So you weren't even close by guessing American..As far as FILM goes, it has always been my opinion that the Japanese make the best movies..of course there are some great French films; such as the French New Wave, Truffaut's "400 Blows," and the classic anti-war film "Forbidden Games." Come to think of it, my possible 'all-time'favorite' movie is French; Rene Clement's "Plein Soleil," from 1960. Feel free to respond, but please keep to the subject at hand; cinema...and leave the personal opinions to social media. I'm sure 'someone' on Instagram would be fascinated to hear about your dislike of Americans..Ciao.
Fabio Testi is GOD
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feodoric
8 years ago
"I'm sure 'someone' on Instagram would be fascinated to hear about your dislike of Americans..Ciao."
What do you mean by 'someone' on Instagram. Could you elaborate please? Is it 'someone' who knows me? I don't frequent Instagram, so....
Let's not make a contest at who's the most xenophobe. And no, for some reason, you don't seem to grasp why I pointed at your initial post. I won't start all over again. Especially since you didn't even care to read the rest of my last reply. I don't know you and please don't pretend to think that you know me either. What I can say is this, though: you seem to be too opinionated to look back at what you wrote and offer me an honest response. You confound conscious and unconscious xenophobia. While no form of it is something to be proud about, the unconscious form is the worst for obvious reasons. And the way you have been going with the whole shebang tends to confirm my initial views.
So be it. You really shouldn't extrapolate the remarks I made on Americans as an across-the-board hostility against them, far from it, sir! I lived in the US for 3 years and some of the best people I've known in my life are Americans. How mistaken can you be? True xenophobia is an instinctive, inbedded hostility against people of a different country. My remarks about Americans were directed to a certain subset of Americans, not the whole people!
I would have much more to comment, but I remember that you don't care much about what I have to say, so.... if you'll excuse me now...
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