Customer Reviews

À cause d'un garçon [VHS]

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4 star:		(9)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

"You'll Get Over It" is a fine French made-for-TV movie showing how coming out affects an individual and those closest to him. Vincent Molina (played by Julien Baumgartner) is the 17-year old anchor of the school swimming relay team, is about to graduate, and is a closeted gay. He has a long-time, virgin girlfriend, Noemie (played by Julia Maraval), and a non-virgin 'buddy', Bruno (played by Nils Ohlund). This works out until Vincent hooks up with a new student, Benjamin (played by Jeremie Elkaim of "Come Undone"). People know Benjamin is gay and make the link to Vincent, who has had a compartmented life. The movie shows how Vincent and those closest to him deal with their emotions as the situation plays out.

Vincent's initial withdrawal and distrustfulness are very realistically shown. The uncertainty and bargaining of his friends and family come through well. The acting is good thoughout.

There is considerable skin shown, from all of Vincent to Noemie to the swimmers and locker-room denizens.

While the movie centers on Vincent and his long-time network, I would have liked a stronger sense of how Bruno fit into Vincent's worldview and on why Benjamin and Vincent make a good fit. Jeremie Elkaim does not get much time on screen, despite his top billing and a good performance. The bonus features are just a picture gallery and some trailers.

I have noticed that recent French movies on a gay theme have been substantially better than their American counterparts. "You'll Get over It", "Close to Leo", "The Man I Love", "Confusion of Genders", "My Life on Ice", "Come Undone", and other movies all seem to have more depth of characterization and more willingness to reveal emotions, sexuality, and the human body than, say, "A Home at the End of the World".

You'll enjoy watching "You'll Get Over It".

In 2002's "À cause d'un garçon" ("You'll Get Over It"), 17 year old Vincent (Julien Baumgartner) deals with the aftermath of being "outed" at his high school, following an aborted tryst with Benjamin (Jérémie "Come Undone" Elkaïm), the new guy in town. The graffiti painted near his locker, the taunting from his classmates, the stunned reaction from his parents, even the open hostility from his brother are easier to deal with than being ostracized by the others on the swim team, possibly jeopardizing his getting a college scholarship. Only one team member remains on his side, while even a teacher believed by students to be gay refuses to help him deal with the reactions. Vincent explores the local gay scene, and is repulsed by the "meat market" atmosphere. His former girlfriend, Noémie, tries to be supportive, but eventually decides that she needs to put her own needs first. In time, his parents rally to let Vincent know he is loved "as is," and enlist the help of his swim coach to overcome the problems with the team.

A beautifully photographed and nuanced film made for French TV, depicting a coming out experience that teens can relate to, handled in a realistic and balanced way. Rated R, with male and female frontal nudity and similated sex. In French with English subtitles. No DVD extras besides the usual trailers and scene selection utility.

***1/2

A sensitive film about both "coming out" and "coming of age," "You'll Get Over It" tells of a 17-year-old French boy's efforts to deal with his homosexuality. A championship swimmer, Vincent is a popular, well-liked kid at school and the apple of his parents' eyes at home. The problem is that Vincent is living a lie, keeping his sexuality a secret from his family, his two best friends, and the world at large. When Vincent is seen "consorting" with a suspected gay student, all hell breaks loose and Vincent is forced to deal with not only the reactions of those around him but the roiling emotions taking place deep within himself about what exactly it means to be gay.

Although the film feels a little too pat, contrived and melodramatic at times - kind of like an After School Special with subtitles and occasional flashes of nudity - "You'll Get Over It" wins us over with the delicacy, insight and compassion it brings to its subject. It shows us the myriad and sometimes surprising reactions from the people in Vincent's life - his parents, his "girlfriend," his best friend, his team mates, his swim coach and his teachers. The amount of outright persecution Vincent has to endure from his fellow students shows that even France - so often thought of as being in the forefront of all things sexual - has a long way to go in accepting gays. The movie also deals with Vincent's own conflicting feelings about being gay, as he contemplates a future filled with what he imagines to be loneliness and unhappiness. Like many gay people, Vincent lives in as much of a state of denial at times as the people around him.

The performances are excellent, particularly those by Julien Baumgartner as Vincent and Julia Maravel as Noemie, the girl who loves him and wants to help him, but who finds it hard to let go of him even after she discovers the truth. Baumgartner has a very expressive face that allows us to understand and identify with the external and internal struggles taking place in his character's life.

For the most part, "You'll Get Over It" has a nice, naturalistic feel to it. Director Fabrice Cazeneuve keeps his camera largely handheld and close to the actors, which heightens the sense of realism and intimacy this type of story needs to be effective. Unfortunately, the plot mechanics do intrude a bit from time to time, and the ending, while touching, does feel a little too conveniently upbeat to be entirely convincing. Still, "You'll Get Over It" serves as a valuable plea for understanding and acceptance, and that is a salutary goal for any film.

You'll Get Over It is a clever film that raises some interesting issues, not just about the coming out process, but also about the kind of schoolyard bullying that many young gay men have had to face in their lives. Full of earnestness and emotional integrity, You'll Get Over It focuses on high school champion swimming star Vincent (a terrific Julien Baumgartner), and his journey towards self-discovery.

Vincent is one of the most popular boys at school, he's good academically, and he's also the star of the school swim team. He likes to hang out with his two best friends, Stéphane (Francois Comar) and Noémie (Julia Maraval). Noemie has had a secret crush on Vincent, but Vincent has discovered that he's gay. He's confused and unsure, and worries about coming out to his loving parents, and the loyal Noémie.

Vincent has pretty well decided that he likes boys - he has Bruno, a gay lover that he sneaks across town to see. But when a new student, Benjamin (Jérémie Elkaïm), arrives at school, Vincent becomes instantly attracted to him and tries to share a first kiss. All the lies and secrecy start to get a bit much for Vincent and things are made much worse when Benjamin starts a nasty rumour-mill by inadvertently outing him. With his teammates shunning him, Vincent sinks into deep depression, melancholy, and self-pity.

How Vincent copes with this outing, both at home and at school is the central element of this story. Noémie is of course devastated, but she still consoles and loves him regardless. His parents, confused and naïve, worry about Vincent's bullying and struggle to help him cope with being ostracized. It doesn't help that he has a jealously competitive older brother, who loves to box and is starved for attention. Seeking advice from his swimming coach and also taking advice from his gay literature teacher, Vincent tries to pull together and transcend the stereotypes that his friends, family, and colleagues have associated with being gay.

While watching this movie I was shocked at the prejudice and bigotry that still exists with kids around this age. I would have thought that teenagers, especially in France where the film is set, would be more to tolerant and broadminded. Whatever the case, things work out happily (and perhaps somewhat unrealistically) for Vincent. Stéphane, Noemie, and his parents are all fine and super cool after they get over the initial shock of finding out.

The film belongs to Julien Baumgartner. His striking good looks positively show his range of emotion and allow the audience into his heart. In one scene, he goes to the city to explore the gay scene, but comes home disgusted at its tacky cheapness. There's an innocence, and incorruptibility to Vincent's soul that allows him to eventually find love in all the right places. Mike Leonard February 05.

You'll Get Over It, directed by Fabrice Cazeneuve, details the life of a swimming champ Vincent (Julien Baumgartner) and his circle of friends Noemae (Julia Maraval) and Ste'phane. Everything in life is going smoothly for Vincent with loving parent, good grades and wonderful friends until Benjamin (Jeremie Elkaim) fumbles out the secret that Vincent is gay. What transpires is the hostility Vincent feels from his swim mates, ex-girlfriend and the loss of control over his life.
The acting in this movie is terrific, Julien, Julia and the actor that plays Ste'phane work well together and give convincing and genuine performances of teenagers in a time of change and confusion. The script is well written and delves into the interfaces between Vincent and his friends, school mates, and family; a must for a movie of this caliber. This French film focuses on emotional bonds, character development, and self image/recognition, but doesn't slide into the usual sex, drugs and lunacy that, I hate to say, seems to be so prevalent in American gay movies. You'll Get Over It is a movie that you will want to add to your movie collect and one that you will walk away from just feeling great.

Coming out rarely happens when a boy wants it to, nor is it typically on his own terms. It is usually a result of misplaced trust which is then humiliatingly betrayed and subsequently broadcast for all who would torture the boy. This is exactly what happens in You'll Get Over It (which is not what the French title really is).

Vincent is a heck of a swimmer and one of the most popular boys in school. He knows who he is and that he is gay, but he keeps it his own secret to protect himself from the gossip and high school torture that he would endure if it were made public. Unfortunately, he makes a pass at a boy who, later we find out is actually gay, defends himself by outing Vincent to his friends.

The fallout from this is immediate and painful for Vincent.

My only problem with this scenario is that Vincent's friends are only too quick to accept the word of a boy that they would abuse regularly. They have not had any indications to this point that Vincent is gay. Why do they so quickly believe this newly transferred outcast boy?

With that one little issue aside, the way that this film plays out is quite believable. Vincent's brother outs him to his parents in an effort to gain their favor and respect. It backfires, but Vincent is outted all the same.

He loses all his swim team buddies with the exception of his best friend who is a rock of support for him (this was poignantly believable). His girlfriend from whom Vincent took her virginity is believably upset and distraught to learn his news. She vacilates between support and anger - another indication of the believability of the script.

Realizing one's sexuality at a young age, in high school - with all of its cliques, is a terribly painful and confusing time. You'll Get Over It explores most of these with great finesse and reality.

It's the fairy tale ending that doesn't work for my American sensibility. I understand that it is almost a prerequisite for a French film though.

In all, it's a refreshingly nice film that explores a very different avenue in the coming out process. So, when compared to other films of this nature, I'm giving it 4 stars.

Check this one out!

You'll Get Over It is a great film. The film about a boy named Vincent who has everything going for him and riding smoothly. He's a great swimmer and does well in school, and people like him. Vincent has a girlfriend Noemie who is very good to him and a best pal Stephane who is also on the swim team. Vincent however is secretly dating Bruno (an older man) and has to make excuses to see Bruno. While hanging out in the hallway with his friends, Vincent's eye catches Benjamin, the new student. The two lock eyes and the next time they cross paths again is when Vincent is working. However, other people on Vincent's swim team know that Benjamin is gay and they tell him to stay away from Vincent. The next day Vincent is outed by graffiti on the school wall. The film then is about Vincent trying to cope with growing up now that everyone at school knows he's gay. He has to come forth with his girlfriend, his best friend, and his family. I think the story line is extremely believable. It almost as if you forget its a movie and as if your looking into someone else's life. It is so powerful to see what Vincent is going through and the new struggles he faces. Julien Baumgartner is such a good actor, he delivers a great performance. He's very intune with the character he's playing and is able to make Vincent so dynamic with so many emotions and feelings. The rest of the cast is also good, the roles they play are vital to the film. I just can't tell you in words how much I liked this film. I don't know if it was because it was a French film. It definately has an artistic side that you may not see so much in American films. I also didn't mind reading the subtitles, but rather enjoyed them. This film is probably one of the best gay films I have seen. I strongly think if you watch this you will like it.

a young man who is in the closet is accidently outed by a
fellow new guy who is attracted to him
usual problems follow
his best friend stays loyal to him
would have like to see more of his new relationship

Although the movie was pretty basic it was still a good movie. Coming out was the only topic throughout the entire movie, it didn't include sub-plots like other gay movies it was just one story and that might have bored the movie down. Overall, I figured the movie to be lacking the intensity that other gay coming out stories involve but this one was just bleh. Everything was presented as if the main actor lived in Disneyland- he was outed, everyone believed the rumor, his parents found out, his girlfriend accepted and they all went about their life as if noting happened. He was accepted by his parents, his girlfriend still loved him, his best male friend still wanted to be his pal (which was a good point) the coach still treated him the same it was as if this story could be taking place in 2100 when being gay is just like global warming- everyone will eventually forget it's a problem and accept it. In the end all the stories concluded themselves, no one got shot, no one died and no one got hurt pretty good feel good movie if you want to come out and need some help.

I have little to add to the many insightful reviews of this charming and very well acted addition to the canon of French-language "coming out" films...

...Except for one aspect of the DVD presentation that I think may be worth mentioning and which is the only reason that I can't give it five stars: the often even-more-ghastly-than-usual subtitles. I've seldom seen such a succession of stilted (and sometimes downright grotesque) "translations" of French dialogue. (Unfortunately, there seems to be no way to turn the little devils off, should one be so inclined...a polite suggestion perhaps that such an option might be much appreciated even by purchasers in Region 1?) Viewers of this film who understand spoken French will, in my opinion, find it *far* more rewarding and enjoyable than those who have to rely on the often jarring "interpretations" of the dialogue suggested by the subtitles.

But, fortunately, even the (imo) most tortured of the subtitles can't derail the excellent performances or the satisfying evolution of Vincent's "dilemma." So, with that one negative criticism, I heartily recommend this film, as have most of the reviewers here. It offers innocence and the blush of young romance, but is powerful and intelligent; it presents a sympathetic and rational perspective on coming out, but doesn't shy away from some of the harsh and irrational realities that can and do confront a young Gay man and his friends during the process. Individuals who enjoy a European approach to Gay films will, I believe, definitely appreciate this one and be very satisfied in adding it to their collection. And perhaps, like me, smile as they wonder what Vincent and his new copain might be planning as the final credits roll.