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73 of 76 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good film, but poor DVD subtitling, October 1, 2002
This review is from: Beau Pere (DVD)
THE FILM: It's a shame that a lot of people won't get to see this french movie. For some it will be the ignorance of watching a foreign language film, but for others there's also the highly taboo subject matter; this alone will stop many viewers from going anywhere near it on account of their principals. As I said, it's a shame as it's a very good film and the subject matter is delicately handled throughout. The biggest difference to this particular lolita-type film is that it's the young girl that seduces the older man, and not vice versa. Patrick Dewaere is good as the older man, but it's the scintillating performance of Ariel Besse as the beautiful young girl that stands out. Showing a maturity way beyond her years, you start to empathize with Patrick's character and the moral dilemmas he has to contend with. THE DVD; Unfortunately, Beau Pere has been given a somewhat poor DVD release. Don't expect any extras; the picture quality is ok, but not great; and you can't even get a time display up to see where you are in the movie!; However, it's the poor subtitling that disappoints the most. As many have already pointed-out, the subtitles go out of synch for about 20 minutes or so during the movie, which makes matters a little confusing. Not only that, but occasionally subtitles will flash-up on the screen very briefly, not even giving you time to read them!. Several times I had to "rewind" the picture, and then pause the DVD so I could read it!. Whilst I don't regret buying the DVD of Beau Pere, this poor subtitling will put me off watching this movie as many times as I would of done otherwise. Very good film, but fans of Beau Pere demand a new DVD release now!!!.
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30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
No one beats the French, November 5, 1999
By A Customer
My hat is off to all the French movie producers...They are all so good. This movie is not the exception. Listening to Marion, a 14 yr old girl convince her step father that she was truly in love with him, made my heart jump out to the little girl. It is amazing how she matures so much during the course of their relationship. At the end, she was making all the mature decisions, while Remy, the step dad, didn't know what to do. The ending is Fantastic. It is left up to interpretation, but the feeling I get is Deja-vu. The only regret I have about this movie is that I will never be able to see it again for the first time. Wish I could give it more that 5 stars. Without a doubt, a must see!
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55 of 63 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Wish Americans Could Make Films Like This, November 24, 2001
This review is from: Beau Pere (DVD)
Sadly, a film like this could never be made in the United States. It's more than just the fact that a story about an older man having a sexual relationship with his 14-year-old stepdaughter would never get made or would get a MPAA rating assuring that no one would ever see it. It's that American sensibilities would change the story into something dirty and degrading. It would be totally unlike the beautiful, yet painful, story presented in this French film. On the surface, this story begins like Nabakov's Lolita--a young girl is left with her stepfather when her mother is killed in an automobile accident. The similarities end here, however. Remy is no Humbert. He loved his wife (in his fashion) and has no designs on his stepdaughter until she professes her desire for him. Remy's intellectual "morality" then struggles with his natural desire for the girl until he is overcome, not without some help. Their relationship then progresses to its inevitable end but not with the smoldering ruin that would be the American version of the story but with two immature people growing up a little bit. I found this film to be a wonderful experience. I wish films like this could be made in this country without ending up like The Crush or Poison Ivy. Instead, Americans have to settle with reading subtitles and coping with Puritanical morals. Still, it's worthwhile to do so with a movie like this. (Note: In my DVD version of this film, the subtitles got off-track with the dialogue for about twenty minutes half-way through the film and then righted themselves.)
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