Customer Reviews

See the Sea [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ozon doesn't mess around with REGARDE LA MER. There simply aren't any extraneous details...everything works together to produce a big ole feeling of dread, the likes of which I haven't experienced in too many other movies. The mother's carelessness and the drifter's sickness are trains rushing at each other on the same track; we only wonder how and when they're going to crash. Beautifully filmed and capably acted, Regarde La Mer is more than just a psychological thriller. It's a work of art.

(By the way, the title is a play on words, because the French word mere (mother) sounds like mer (sea). And the title "Look at the Mother" tells you more about the movie than does "See the Sea.")

It may be Francois Ozon's time. While his recent films CRIMINAL LOVERS and WATER DROPS ON BURNING ROCKS are excellent studies in the costs of identity and self-transformation, repression and want, neither film (nor his other film, the darkly comic SITCOM) delivers the powerful suspense of SEE THE SEA. This brooding and gorgeous film is a dark examination of the issues that Ozon continues to explore; infidelity, punishment, and libidinous violence. While these themes, in the hands of a lesser director, might play out in predictable and visually sterile scenarios, Ozon explores them with a deft touch that includes a gracefully moving camera, saturated colors, and performances that will haunt you. The tensions that build and finally climax in SEE THE SEA are palpable and horrifying, and despite our best hopes, Ozon does not flinch in giving us the ending that Hollywood never would. I can't recommend it highly enough... a suspense film that delivers more bang in 54 minutes than most directors ever do. Ozon's latest works have grown aesthetically and broadened in scope and theme, but nothing touches this taut and haunting classic. A MUST SEE.

See the Sea is an eerie portrayal of a sadistic wanderer that will really give you the creeps. Ozon is very talented and has a very unique technique that he uses to portray some fairly erotic scenes. The movie was well done but a little bit too morbid and disgusting for me. It is a severe contrast to the short film that proceeds it which is the reason I bought the film. The short, A Summer Dress, is light and funny and at the same time erotic and sexy. The short film is a coming of age story of sorts that explores the bi-sexuality of the main character. The attractiveness of the characters is both physical and by personality. Very sexy and the theme song will stay in your mind forever! Bang!Bang!

It may be Francois Ozon's time. While his recent films CRIMINAL LOVERS and WATER DROPS ON BURNING ROCKS are excellent studies in the costs of identity and self-transformation, repression and want, neither film (nor his other film, the darkly comic SITCOM) delivers the powerful suspense of SEE THE SEA. This brooding and gorgeous film is a dark examination of the issues that Ozon continues to explore; infidelity, punishment, and libidinous violence. While these themes, in the hands of a lesser director, might play out in predictable and visually sterile scenarios, Ozon explores them with a deft touch that includes a gracefully moving camera, saturated colors, and performances that will haunt you. The tensions that build and finally climax in SEE THE SEA are palpable and horrifying, and despite our best hopes, Ozon does not flinch in giving us the ending that Hollywood never would. I can't recommend it highly enough... a suspense film that delivers more bang in 54 minutes than most directors ever do. Ozon's latest works have grown aesthetically and broadened in scope and theme, but nothing touches this taut and haunting classic. A MUST SEE.

This is truly a gripping short story , shot on a beautiful French Island. Sasha Hails is one of the true outstanding actresses of our time and Ozon will deliver more over the years to come. If this is any example of their partner ship, sit back and wait for more it will be worth it.
What was of interest was the Baby in the movie was in fact hails trule life daughter Samantha.
This movie won an award in the US Gay film festival, not that the movie has overly a gay theme but rather the Gay communities ability to spot a true winner and honour it accordingly.

This is a very disturbing movie. The pace is excellent for 50 minutes long; however, I did not like the storyline. The actors are excellent and characters are well developed for the short length of the movie. The mother and daughter bond felt sincere (later found out that they are really related).

The reason I did not like this movie is solely because of the storyline, it is too trite, I simply felt I've seen this type of suspenseful movie before. The movie did impart some much needed wisdom: I will never leave my toothbrush in the bathroom while guests are present.

I watched this film last night. It's a brilliant story-line and well made. One could say that parts of it are very disturbing, but the positive points about the film help to overcome those uncomfortable moments. I would definitely watch it again.

I was in the mood for a thriller so i pick this film at a used bargain price. It was a good blind purchase. This french film has a minimalist style, there is no suspenseful music just a woman with her baby in an isolated summer house and a stranger,which makes the womans actions and choices more intense becouse you know at anytime something is going to go wrong. The image is sharp and the colors are good the film is a little dirty but that is ok it gives it the grindhouse look. The sound is good. Extras include a short film called A Summer Dress,an interview with actress Sasha Hails,and a theatrical trailer

A last Australian edition of Fr. Ozon works has accomplished two DVD disks: "See the sea", "Summer Dress" and X2000 plus shorts on a second.

Psychotic movie of murdering mother and her infant daughter is well balanced with rather comedian works presented a real talent of producer upon few minutes disclosing to a point a very gist of stories' acting characters.

Funny, entertaining, professional.

This picture reminded me of the build-up in terror of Le Ceremonie by Chabrol. My stomach turned as the film kept going right up until the ending. I couldn't decide who was weirder: the mother who leaves her baby alone in a bathtub, goes off in the woods leaving the baby alone or continues to let the hitchhiker into her house.

SPOILER ALERT

Until I read reviews on IMDB, I thought it was the mother who killed the hitchiker. The hitchiker was so weird looking with her hair in a mess that I didn't connect with the woman at the end with flowing black hair. But from other people's comments, it seems I was wrong. I don't usually get things like this mixed up but this film had me in knots and I had to rerun the tape to see what the husband saw.

A truly scary film that didn't run on and on forever (good thing it didn't.