Customer Reviews

When Night Is Falling (1995 Film)

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'll have to admit..I'm a lesbian trapped in a man's body!
Nothing is more enjoyable than to see a successful love relatioship between two women. Unfortunately, in movies (major and independents) nothing is more rare! I am so tired of self hating lesbian directors making movies about sick, twisted women behaving in self-destructive behavior!
Fortunately!!! This movie is not one!
A wonderfully acted, enjoyable LOVE STORY between a lesbian and a "convert to lesbianism". You might even say a convert to real love, after having a ho-hum relationship with a man- just because it's what's expected. Some of the story is kind of silly or quirky, but adds to the oddball character of the movie. American movies can be so tedious sometimes...foreign movies (especially Canadian ones), tend to take more chances and less car chases!
A BEAUTIFUL movie with incredible music to boot! The two sister trapeeze act during the love scene is worth the price of the movie...they are former Cirque du Soleil performers.
SOME ADVICE.........You can get this movie on DVD on some Canadian websites. The love scenes are extended and well worth buying the DVD for....Also, it is a MUCH better re-mastered copy with director's commentary.
The movie is funny in spots....very tender and passionate.....beautifully photographed....and the acting is first rate. One of my favorite lovestories...straight or lesbian.

I am so glad that Criterion picked up this film. The DVD came out late, well after the initial release of the video had disappeared. Recent showings on the LOGO network have rekindled some well deserved interest.

Most Lesbian films are just plain bad. With the rare exception of a film like Desert Hearts, they are mindless romps by undeveloped, self-absorbed characters. They always end in the bedroom, usually to a lush musical score, because the plot literally can't go anywhere else. This film is not only a good lesbian film but a beautiful, artistically rendered chronical of a quirky relationship between two very eccentric people. The cinematography alone makes it so visually compeling that you could watch it just for that. It has a fine rhythmic pacing and a color saturation reminiscent of David Lynch. The color filled Art Circus atmosphere that surrounds one character pops as it is interspered with the staid beiges and browns that paint the academic world of the other. One scene that intercuts a car headlight dancing across a bedroom wall, a circus act that uses bouncing lights behind a screen and one of the female leads making love to her boyfriend turns editing into an artform.
Well worth the price!

This film in my view is the best coming-out story that I've seen portrayed, since Desert Hearts. This viewer can take the role of any of the major characters and empathize. The actresses were convincing as lesbians.

The pain Martin felt personally and to his ego I felt, but all's fair in love. The issues and decisions that both Carmille and Petra had to make were realistically and tenderly portrayed. For example, Carmille's decision to follow her desire and heart or her decision to leave her okay life for a prospect shows a great deal of courage and spontaneity. Martin, I'm sure is a proponent of a bird in the hand philosophy.

And Petra's pursuit of Carmille was laudable for an individual who seemed so carefree to dare confront a woman so emerged in religion; a woman, who already has a man (What a dyke!).

The symbolism between christianity vs. circus life appeared a bit satanic for my taste; but it didn't distract from the movie. Instead it added to Carmille's journey of self-discovery from one end of the pendulum to the other. Both women were beautiful and sensual as disparate from sexy and provocative and as a woman I can appreciate that. Both women were able to make their respective characters come alive realistically.

I've watched this movie several times and there is no end in site. I'm a fan and looking for more from Patricia Rozema. Watching this moving more than once I can appreciate the time, effort, talent, detail and affection that she put into each character and each scene. She did a great job. This is a good movie.

We watched this film last night, and to say we were impressed is insufficient. This is a touching lesbian love story, an evocative discovery of a woman's sexual identity, and an entertaining couple movie, all bundled in an incredibly erotic package.

Camille, played by Pascale Bussières (well-known in Quebec for her role as the title character in the wildly popular mini-series "Blanche") is a repressed, conservative teacher at a Toronto Christian college. Camille is engaged to Martin (Henry Czerny), a fellow teacher at the college. Czerny is miscast in my opinion--it is sadly difficult to separate his character from the abusive and menacing Brother Lavin of "The Boys of St. Vincent". Czerny's brooding, hooded stare distances him from the viewer and makes him far less sympathetic than his character demands in this film.

Camille's engagement seems not to touch her very deeply, despite a passionate love scene she shares with Martin, and in a moment of vulnerability she is "cruised" and captured by Petra, a circus performer wild-child played by newcomer Rachael Crawford.

Petra visibly falls head-over-heels in love with Camille and the love affair which blossoms is beautiful and exciting in its intensity. The viewer's emotions are snagged and held by the way the initial infatuation develops into profound love between the two women.

Despite the foregoing, I have a couple of reservations about the film. The musical score is excellent--dark and sinister for the circus rehearsal and audition scenes and ethereal for the dream sequences--however it would have been nice to hear more of Shirley Eikhart's voice other than in harmony. The sets are good, but the "iron" scene is just plain weird and does not fit the Cirque du Soleil-like atmosphere. Is it a prerequisite of Canadian films that they display their artsy independence with strange camera angles, sentinel-like trees and transmission towers, and nausea inducing spinning?

And one last minor whinge about the DVD: Patricia Rozema is a talented and courageous director, but her "director's commentary" is for the most part mind-numbingly boring and uninformative. We kept commenting that we wanted to learn more about the locations, the cast and the crew, only to be treated to a metaphysical soliloquoy delivered in a self-conscious monotone.

In all, 4 stars for an excellent story, well delivered, with a few relatively minor cavils.

When Night is Falling is easily one of the most romantic movies you are going to see about two women falling in love with each other in spite of the world around them. The lead actresses, Pascale Bussieres and Rachael Crawford give wonderful and believable performances as the main characters Camille and Petra.

The romantic soft-focus cinematography and mellowy music that seems to be an overused cliche in most lesbian orientated genres is used superbly this time by its director, Patricia Rozema,who gives us a very colorful perspective of the "Land up North".

I felt that there are many great scenes in this movie but the opening scene where we see the very straight-minded Camille having lesbian fantasties is probaly the most important scene because it establishes Camille's potential desire to be with other woman. These desires made the unlikely relationship between Camille and Petra(who is openly lesbian) much more plausible and believable.

I also liked the fact that the movie at times did not take itself too seriously and mixed in some fun and interesting moments with Camille and Petra. I loved the acrobatic lovemaking scene with the carnival music and the two trapeze artists performing overhead but the scene at the laundry where Petra pulls the old "switch-charoo" is a classic...

I had seen "When Night is Falling" in the video store for maybe 4 years. When I finally picked it up last week I was happy to find that $1 would buy me a weeks worth of viewing. Was that dollar worth handing over? An emphatic YES is my only response. I'd have happily paid the usual $7 had I known this movie would be so good.

Going to work the following day, I was still entranced by this beautiful love story. Instead of actually doing work, I decided to find out some more information about this movie. After going to amazon.com, I was overjoyed to find that so many others were also thrilled be this film.

The cinematography was magnificant and left me longing to visit those snow encrusted forests of Canada. I'm still dazzled by the swirling power staunchion over Petra's head. And like so many others, I too was capitivated (maybe even spellbound) by Camille beauty. My only regret in having finally seen "When Night is Falling" is that I now have the knowledge that such consuming passion can exist. Had I not seen this film, I might never have wanted to experience that passion myself.

I have the arduous task of handing back the video to the store today. Perhaps "When Night is Falling" answers the "wordless question" that so many other movies have been unable to answer. I certainly feel it has answered some questions for me.

I'm not lesbian, I'm not gay, I like all sorts of films, but this film evokes more powerful emotions in me than any other film I've ever watched. I've watched it over and over (on video), and it's not even the same things that drive the emotions. I'm hetero, and at first I must admit it was Pascale's luscious body that fascinated me. Later I liked the whole trajectory of the love story, the leaving behind of heterosexuality, the tweedy university, Canada, the established church, marriage, for the wilds of San Francisco, the circus, no sure means of support, and a lesbian relationship. (I lived just south of San Francisco for many years.) Later still I was mesmerized by the two trapeze artists who showed so overwhelmingly what trust is. I used to watch the movie over and over just to see that sequence. Then there was a time I grieved terribly for the church. The church! When did I ever even love it so much? Yet the emotions came. I agree with the other reviewer that sometimes the movie is cheesy, but also I agree it's overwhelming in its beauty. There's some wonderful humor in the film, too, including the immortal line, Oh grow up. This film has tapped into archetypal energies. I wouldn't miss it. Thank goodness it's now coming out again in DVD. Sign me up.

This movie isn't perfect. It's quirky and artsy and sweet and intimate, but everything doesn't always track all the time. But this movie is so lovable and delicate and sweet that I can't even bring myself to discuss its flaws. (And actually, it's one of those movies where the flaws become part of what you love about the film).

The plot goes something like this: Straight woman in rather ordinary relationship with a nice enough guy. Lesbian circus performer comes after straight woman. Straight woman resists but is clearly intrigued. After a little back and forth, straight woman finally gives in and the two women ultimately fall in love.

"When Night Is Falling" does everything a love story's supposed to do. Pascale Bussières (Camille) is tortured, lovable, and convincing. And Rachael Crawford (Petra) is honest, quirky, and absolutely mesmerizing. By the time these two women realize that they're in love, you find that you've sort of fallen in love too. And really, what more can you ask for from a love story?

I'm absolutely a tough critic, it's my "station in life," but this movie caught some sparks inside of me that I never knew even had a presence. When I first came across the movie it was an ordinary night; I was bored and channel surfing, I happened to be watching a cable channel and the titel displayed. Titles usually catch my attention and encourage me to want to actually watch a program and this particular night was no exception. I first thought it was going to be another cheesy movie; nonetheless cheesy lesbian movie, but I began to become intrigued by the storyline and overall performance of the two actresses. Camille presents an intimidating outer beauty that is coherent with her sweet voice, and what is even better; her looks don't have to compensate for bad acting, she doesn't become nude because she can't "get into" her character; she becomes nude because she does "get into" her character. Petra's beauty is strengthened as the movie progresses. You begin to see changes in her character, and in her performance. It makes it quite alert that love is a feeling in which no one born under the sun has any control over. The term "homophobia" has become quite a popular term among heterosexual men/women who fear other sexuality preferences; mostly homosexuality, and among homosexual men/women; which some feel like they are looked upon as contagious specimens...homophobia; Jesus, society acts as if a person's private life or choice in life is a topic for discussion during a therapy session. Therefore, seeing this movie and witnessing how, for once, a woman who was preampted to be "straight" with a "boyfriend" could defeat the opponents within herself and decide to act on her new found love for a "woman", and the new term "heterophobic" made me squeal in laughter. This movie, although a couple of years earlier, completely squashed the cliche' title of 'Chasing Amy' which certainly depicted lesbians as "needing men" or "eventually falling in love with men" as if there were no real lesbians in the world who preferred sharing their most intimate, passionate, and even routined moments with a woman. It's absolutely degrading. Not all lesbians are women just waiting for the right man, and for all those future producers and directors of 'Chasing Amy' movie upcomings...hint this; Not only was 'When Night Is Falling' filled with passion, steam, and creativity; it is more true to reality than your cliche' will ever be. For my friend who actually named her cat "Petra" after the character in the movie...this one's for you!

I love this movie. I can't say how many times I have seen it. It's one of my absolute favourites. Director Patricia Rozema made this a masterpiece. It has all the ingredients: Great story, beautiful cinematogrophy, thoughtful dialogue, talent, emotion, wonderful contrasts; the list goes on and on.

So here's the plot, in no certain order: Camille (Pascale Bussières) is a Mythology teacher at New Faith College, a Christian Post-Secondary Institute. Her boyfriend, Martin (Henry Czerny), is a theologian at the same school. There is an open position for a new chaplain at the school, as the current chaplain is moving on. Camille and Martin are offered the position as a team. The position can go to a man/woman team provided their relations were not questionable, ie. provided they were married. So the school is pressuring Camille and Martin to get married so that they would not be presumed to be having sex out of wedlock. Bad Christians! They do have sex. They don't get married.
N.B. Some lesbian viewers may not like the inclusion of a hetero sex scene, but it's very important to the story. One must pay attention to details of how she is attempting to make love to her partner and how he appears to just be screwing. (Reviewer's opinion)

At a local laundromat, Camille meets Petra (Rachael Crawford), a performer in the modern circus, Sirkus of Sorts. Petra and Camille connect (Rachael and Pascale have chemistry!!!) and Petra performs a "switcharoo" with their laundry, thus prompting them to meet again.

As the story develops, we see Camille struggling with her faith and it's conservative, anti-gay views versus her feelings for Petra. Camille is still very conservative and not used to the crass nature of the performers. My favourite dialogue is after Petra dances with Camille while other performers are cat-calling.

Camille: "It's vulgar and crass."
Petra: "Wh-What? Are you ashamed of me? These are some of the nicest people, Camille. If you can't handle a little fun with them, what are you going to go when the really mean f#%^*@$ of the world start picking on you, huh? 'Cause they will, Camille. They'll be mean and they'll be laughing up a storm."
Camille: "Not if you show a little dignity"
Petra: "Dignity? What could be more dignified than dancing with the woman I adore?"

It's beautiful, really.

Naturally, the love scene between Petra and Camille cannot go unmentioned. The chemistry between these actors is enough to project their feelings, but the twin trapeze artists provide beautiful imagery for the scene occurring below them.

I went to St. Patrick's High School in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. Patricia Rozema went to Lambton Christian High School, which was across the street and recently closed. We are in two very different age groups, but from the same area of town. I wish I could know her. I wish more of her recent alumni could know her. I had very in depth conversations with my religion teacher at St. Pat's and even lent her my copy of this film. She actually watched it, though she said she turned it off when Camille walked out on the chaplain and thus, "chose Petra over her Faith." Of course, I told my teacher about the ending, and I think she wished she'd stuck it out to see it. I found some of the dialogue hard to hear because of wispering and such, but if you watch the movie enough, you'll get it.

One last thing: Camille's dog. He dies in the beginning, and you'll no doubt be confused when you see him in the end, but I suspect it is more imagery. The dog is not just her pet, but part of her heart. This movie is not for those who don't enjoy thinking about a film LOOOOOOONG after it's over. If you don't think about it, you miss stuff (by "you" I mean "me" because I still haven't caught everything). But it's definately for anyone who loves love.