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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Haunting Erotic Love Story, July 21, 2000
This review is from: Girl in a Swing [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Apparently, people either love this movie or they hate it. I happen to be a Meg Tilly fan, and I rather liked this film and her performance in it. The film is based on a book by the author of "Watership Down," and it is a rather haunting love story. The film concerns an English antique collector who meets a young German woman on one of his trips. They fall in love, though the young woman has some dark secrets which she is unwilling to reveal. The film is at times a little frightening, and there is a prevalent melancholic, supernatural atmosphere. I have read the book, and I think the film is at least equal, if not superior, to the novel. Meg Tilly is an American actress but she assumes a rather thick German accent for this film. There is a dreamy, pensive quality to her performance that fits in well with the tone of the film. The film is an English production, so perhaps it will seem too "European" for the usual American audience. Nonetheless, given the current revival of spooky movies in the last few years, this is a film which certainly deserves more attention than it received during its initial release in the late 1980s. Give it a try; you may like it.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very original and so misunderstood!, February 9, 2000
This review is from: Girl in a Swing [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Unlike so many American films that are predictable,this erotic/mystery film will demand use of your brain cells. Meg Tilly admittedly is very difficult to understand because of her heavy german accent, but don't let this dissuade you from viewing this film. Meg's love interest, an Englishman, has a sixth sense concerning premonitions that complicates his understanding of Meg's strange obsessions and the secret she holds from her past. The ending doesn't disappoint, and you made need to view it a couple of times to fully appreciate it's inventiveness. If you like a film which strays from the boring path of predictability, this is the one!
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Haunting ethereal drama, October 24, 2003
This review is from: Girl in a Swing [VHS] (VHS Tape)
First, Meg Tilly is an awesome actress - I was very disappointed to learn that she stopped appearing in films to give her sister, Jennifer, a chance to also be noticed in her own right. Second, Meg is absolutely beautiful in an unusual way. Reviewers who don't appreciate her beauty have become too used to expecting magazine-cover girls. Third, it's true that the English antique-porcelain collector guy is not sexy or so impactful (although his portrayer's acting also is breathtakingly perfect so I wouldn't be surprised if he's sizzling elsewhere) - He's not supposed to be sensually erotic like Karin - That's part of the story. Fourth, the supernatural images are not superfluous - They're also a central story element: Karin's emotions & actions are so intense and horribly tragic that they manifest themselves in palpable psychic energy and cruel, indirect, unrelenting reminders. It's not at all hard to believe, at least not while watching this film. I've only ever been able to believe two films' horror elements instead of finding their scare attempts transparent, often accompanied by poor special effects. Only The Girl In A Swing and The Exorcist made me believe what I was seeing - Consequently I don't intend to ever see either again. I don't particularly like being frightened but if you do, or you're seeking exceptional artistry in film, check it out. The only reason Girl in a Swing didn't garner my 5th star is that some of the supernatural occurrences are too confusing at first however they do make sense when your mind's been able to go over them enough times - like mine did for weeks even though I didn't want it to.
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