I've watched this film twice, with about four years between viewings, and I think it's quite unrealistic and unsatisfying, though I realise it might appeal to the sentimental. (The fact that on the second viewing I had no memory of the film shows something.)
First of all, why is the English title "Crossing the Lighthouse"? Surely it should be "Crossing *to* the Lighthouse"?
It tries to show a deep romantic association between two 10-year-old children. I realise that such things are possible, and likely to be misunderstood by the adults, but it appears to show an adult's view as to how such things *ought* to be. It's very intense, with the children wanting to correspond daily when separated. (What would they have to say to one another?) However, apart from a single, chaste kiss, it's entirely sexless, as adults would like to picture ten-year-olds.
When the two boys try to determine "Yann's" sex, all they do is push her over and say, "It's a girl". IRL they would pull her pants down to make sure and humiliate her for deceiving them.
The oil lamp that they light when the lighthouse electricity fails is feeble and wouldn't be an effective illumination, especially without the reflectors or lenses required.
The whole search and rescue piece, on land and sea, is overdone and unconvincing.
The symbolism of the lighthouse as a place of refuge is lost to me.
Do we ever learn who is intercepting the children's correspondence?
The "powers that be" in the form of the judge and the other woman cave too quickly. They would stick with their resolve.
Why the consideration that Corinne and Pierre should adopt them both? Wouldn't that make the children rather incestuous, or is that OK in France?
(This film is how people like to think of "young love".)
First of all, why is the English title "Crossing the Lighthouse"? Surely it should be "Crossing *to* the Lighthouse"?
It tries to show a deep romantic association between two 10-year-old children. I realise that such things are possible, and likely to be misunderstood by the adults, but it appears to show an adult's view as to how such things *ought* to be. It's very intense, with the children wanting to correspond daily when separated. (What would they have to say to one another?) However, apart from a single, chaste kiss, it's entirely sexless, as adults would like to picture ten-year-olds.
When the two boys try to determine "Yann's" sex, all they do is push her over and say, "It's a girl". IRL they would pull her pants down to make sure and humiliate her for deceiving them.
The oil lamp that they light when the lighthouse electricity fails is feeble and wouldn't be an effective illumination, especially without the reflectors or lenses required.
The whole search and rescue piece, on land and sea, is overdone and unconvincing.
The symbolism of the lighthouse as a place of refuge is lost to me.
Do we ever learn who is intercepting the children's correspondence?
The "powers that be" in the form of the judge and the other woman cave too quickly. They would stick with their resolve.
Why the consideration that Corinne and Pierre should adopt them both? Wouldn't that make the children rather incestuous, or is that OK in France?
(This film is how people like to think of "young love".)
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