Reviews

It has been half a year since I've seen the movie but I am still convinced that it is certainly as good as 'Beautiful Thing', that other iconic feel-good movie.

Let's start with some criticism: the discussion among the teammates from the QueerSchlag, the gay rowing team, about clichés is a cliché in itself. It seems like every self-respecting gay-themed movie has to criticize the clichés (feminism, sex-addiction, masculinity...). Marlon Kitel, who plays the sensitive Leo, sees his character reduced to being the politically correct gay. But how I loved that character

The good news is that this was the only thing that bothered me in this film. The best news is that the actors are great, not only are they stunningly beautiful and skilled in their acting, I didn't get shivers from the German they were using. Which is a rare thing :-)

The imagery is enchanting, naturalistic. Of course, the lake takes the credits for that. The music fits in nicely, although you might call "Go West" 'over the top'.

The story is definitely a positive one, although it is positive in shades. It shows some of the darker sides of the coming of age of a Gay teen, dreams are shattered, new hopes and fears are displayed without being explicitly mentioned. You have to chew some of the material yourself, which is good... at least it keeps you busy once you've seen the movie.

I saw it twice and am eagerly awaiting to get my hands on a DVD (sold out already here) to have a third and possible fourth screening. It is one of those films that makes you soft in the end. Food for the soul. Soulfood.

The movie misses a better plot, it deserves a better plot when shooting at the Versailles and dealing with Louis XIV. Not that it is bad, just don't expect too much. The costumes, the location, the music, the historical facts, it all seems to be present, but the director just didn't make good use of it. It is an entertaining movie for those who like costume-dramas though, be not mistaken. I had expected it to be better. The characters are well drawn, the actors are good enough, especially the Queen and the Dance Master. The director did not fear the use of some explicit body-language, something that I applaud, it fits well in this landscape of courtly love.