Jack Harvey
This will be a review for Les Amities particulieres and a comparison to the 're-make' The fire that burns. However, before I begin I'd like to warn you this will be very detailed and long. Feel free to skim and such, but if you really want to know my opinion, please read throughly. So sit back, grab a drink, and enjoy this review.~*I: Background *~Les Amities particulieres is a movie which in my opinion is the greatest film of all time. You might disagree with this, but hopefully after I present my review of the movie you'll think differently. This movie is a forgotten piece of work, and it's a kind of movie that you'd never get bored watching. There are certain motifs in this film that play huge part and things you ought to know about the movie as well, such as characters.Georges: The main protagonist in this movie, an upperclassman, son of a marquis. Short black hair, brooding eyes, a real looker.Alexandre: This is George's lover. He's in the forth grade during this movie. Has long almost shaggy brown hair, and real energetic eyes. He has a million different expressions. (I counted 23) and he is very attractive. Sad he's sixty now.Religion is a very big contributor in this movie as there are very strict traditions in this movie. Such as up early, not allowed to sleep a certain way, communion, and other things like this. This school is a place that I'd never wish anyone would go it. It's very strict and the people are ignorant of the ideals of a rational person, but rather motivated by foolish and religious beliefs that have dictated this school for years.This movie is filmed in black and white and that gives it's brilliance more meaning in my opinion. It shows the scenes as more theatrical and makes them more dramatic to happen. It makes one feel happy when it's filmed this way. (This changed in the supposed remake) and it makes everything seem dull, and this matches the movie.The beginning of this movie is a heart-warming scene of our protagonist saying good bye to his parents as he embarks to his new school. In this movie people seem to make friends, really, really fast. Almost instantaneous and it makes me wonder if real life is actually like this. Can one become friends with some one, best friends in minutes? I would like to test this theory some time.Also, all the students that go to this school seem to be really, really smart, and they all come here because they're smart. Some of them even are arrogant when it comes to their intelligence. One of the main character's friends, I wont mention you, has a single event in the movie which exposes his homosexuality, and they even show his boyfriend. Sorry, they are of the same age, we're not to the good part yet, but this allows the protagonist to realize some things about himself and open up. Sadly something happens to the boyfriend, again won't spoil it and you will have to figure out what.The way that the protagonist and his young lover meet is quite sweet. I think of it as any other cinematic experience. On a public forum, having a sweet starring back and forth, finally saying hello, and then switching into a good game. Yes, the protagonist meets his future love somewhat early on in the film, and it's like love at first site.The middle of this movie has to be the sweetest part of the whole movie and it really lays it down for what's to come in this movie. The first exchange of love between the two is a verse the older boy writes to the younger boy. How he gets it to him, and how the other boy reacts is up to you to find out, but I have to say it was very sweet and they were almost on the same wavelength and they act based off each other without having to talk about it.During the movie they have a secret hiding spot where they go. I wont tell you what it is, but they come here often and they have many love felt exchanges with each other. Now, they never really do stuff with each other in this film. They barely even hug in his film, they hold hands once, and the younger boy kisses the older boy on the cheek twice. So for all of you hoping for something more to happen. Nothing ever does.The next part is my favorite scene and a SPOILER, so skip over the next paragraph if you haven't seen it.My favorite scene is definitely the Piano scene, it's very cute and a adorable. Alexandre had the audacity to come into his piano lesson and stand there, even mess with him, as the teacher was there. Even after he left, they played piano together, and Alexandre made it very clear that he didn't care what happened, they'd escape together and live together forever. Which in my opinion is very brave for a kid in the forth grade. Of course Georges agrees with him, and they make their plans together.~* IV: Ending *~The ending I didn't like at all. I'm sorry, but I won't spoil it for you.The ending is where everything began to unwind, and I think it all happened to quickly. I can't really discuss further without giving details that'll ruin it. All I have to say is to watch this movie.
ricbigi
I have long wished to see this film and finally a DVD of it has been made available, so I watched it with enormous curiosity. I must say I am very much touched by LES AMITIÉS PARTICULIÈRES, for everything rings absolutely true in this film. The screenplay by Jean Aurenche and Pierre Bost is perfection itself, rending Peyrefitte's autobiographical novel totally cinematic, visually striking and emotionally devastating. The acting by the two leading men is beyond anything I could have expected from such young performers. Didier Haudepin gives the best performance by a child actor I have ever seen in fifty-some years of film-going, standing alongside the likes of Patty Duke in THE MIRACLE WORKER, Brigitte Fossey in LES JEUX INTERDITS and Enzo Staiola in LADRI DI BICICLETTE. The supporting cast is equally to be praised, particularly the great Michel Bouquet. Frankly, Jean Delannoy deserves ample credit for having brought to the screen a film of such beauty and flawless artistry. I believe François Truffaut has never done anything that even approaches such a high level of film-making.
ninoguapo
At first I did not think that the movie will be interesting. But I soon changed my opinion. The fact that the movie is in black and white makes it even more appealing than if it was in colour. The action takes place in a boarding school located in France. Actually the scenes from the dinning room reminded me of the movies for Harry Potter.The main characters are Georges de Sarre – 16 years old student and the young Alexandre (age 12) who is a student at the same school. Their friendship is really beautiful – and heart touching. It sure brought some old memories too. There is a lot of poetry in this movie – it seems that I am getting hocked to poetry- again! Few years ago there was a girl who was sending me sonnets of Shakespeare. I even tried to write some poems myself. I still haven't finished watching the movie – it turned out to be on two CDs and I only got one of them, but will get the second one soon- then I will complete this review.I have finished watching the movie and its ending made me sad – sad and disgust. Disgust that there are such people who refuse to accept that a true, special friendship can exist and interfere – to hurt everyone, but their pity selves. And do I know of such people – because they are not only shown in the movies you know – they lurk amongst us – trying to make the rest believe and thing what they do – such people really disgust me….Les amitiés particulières is based on 1943 novel by French writer Roger Peyrefitte.
Paul Emmons
I had read the novel (in English translation, one of two which have been published?) several years before seeing the film. It is, I think, characteristically French: carefully descriptive, observant, objective, restrained, but also subtly hypnotic. I read and read, and almost put the book down halfway through because it didn't seem to be going anywhere or making any impact on me. Then, all of a sudden, I was in tears-- but I still couldn't say exactly what had hit me other than everything. It was as though the pieces of a puzzle suddenly fell into place.The film is faithful to the spirit as well as the letter of the book. Both were remarkably bold gestures for their time, describing an earlier generation and environment which were even more strait-laced. Like me, you may fall gently under its spell, then-- wham! Sheer magic.
