Customer Reviews

Cross My Heart [VHS]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This video starts off a little odd...with a young boy who is acting strangely in school for reasons unknown...he later is revealed to be living with the corpse of his recently-deceased mother. His friends try to cover up the fact that she has died because they don't want him to be taken away to an orphanage. Good film.

This is a terrific work with fine acting and direction that is even more impressive because children are the stars! My girlfriend and me saw this years ago at a college theater and have not forgotten the naturalness of the interaction between these young actors and actresses and the impressions the story left upon us. Having forgotten the title, an involved search began to find this film, several years after first viewing. We were both elated when it was re-discovered at Colorados's best video rental center. Cross My Heart is a gentle drama that is not forced or obvious and that sets it apart from so many films of it's type and in my opinion, puts it above nearly all films I've seen. It is also the best acting I 've ever seen from children in my lifetime. It is an intimate look at the world of children and though improbable, the story is made believeable by direction that understands how that world operates.

As a French teacher, I would recommend this for French students looking for something where the language isn't too difficult. I love all sorts of French films, but this is one of a few that can be used even for middle school French students. Although somewhat dated, the surprising topic makes it interesting. Students who aren't very advanced in French can nonetheless pick out some familiar words and phrases in this movie. The view of the French school system makes for some useful cultural comparisons. The original title was "Fracture du Myocarde."

A very inspirational and educational movie. Great actors and good director. Good storyline and I recommend it to teachers and students.

This is a great film about friendship. Nevertheless, as a French teacher, I have shown it to high school students with only limited success. Many kids seem to find the subject matter off-putting. Perhaps this is a film that can be better appreciated by adults? In any event, it's heart-warming without being sappy. In this respect the comparison another viewer made to "Stand By Me" is apt. "Holes" comes to mind as another film with a similar feel. The young cast is truly excellent, and whenever I watch this film, the theme song stays in my head for days.

Not since Stand By Me has a film captured all the innocence, pain and fun of growing up. When Antoine and Jerome follow their best friend Martin home from school one day, they discover why he has been acting so strangely - his mother had been dead for three days and he's been keeping it a secret for fear of being sent to an orphanage. That calls for a pact - to preserve Martin's home life at all costs. They'll learn to cook, sign his report cards, even sell the furniture in order to keep him out of the clutches of meddlesome adults. Filled with comic escapades and bittersweet adventures, Cross My Heart brings back the magic and mystery of childhood.

CAC's Comments: This film is by far the best French film that exists today. It is a tragic-comedy about family life and the joys of childhood. The acting is outstanding and the main characters become your friends while you understand what it really means to cross your heart.