You Are Not Alone

I finally got a chance to watch a movie last week...it had been over a month! This movie tells the story of two young boys that fall in love, one a post-pubescent student at a boarding school, the other the pre-pubescent son of the school's headmaster.

First, the movie is beautiful. The interaction between the two main characters is touching, and handled with tender care. The two young men (who are the actual ages they are portraying) are excellent and convincing in their roles...as are the other young actors who make up the rest of the students at the school. The interactions between all the characters in the movie are incredibly realistic...not sugar coated, or worse, over dramatized.

There are issues, however, with this movie that make it less than excellent. For one, the script is terribly fragmented. For a while, you forget that there is supposed to be a relationship developing between the two main characters. The main storyline gets lost amongst a jumble of other side stories going on inside and outside of the schools walls. While these side stories don't dull down the movie (on the contrary, they are often humorous and charming), they strip any semblance of order and purpose from the narrative.

The other issue is that all the other characters are either completely oblivious to the affection that Bo and Kim share (which is nearly impossible), or they don't care (which seems equally odd). While I've nothing against a story that is simple, innocent, and charming...you'd think that these two boys would suffer some of the hardships that come along with being young and gay. :giveup Overall, I applaud the movie for approaching it's subject material so openly, in a way that would NEVER be seen in an American film. The characters are engaging and a joy to watch. Too bad the story wasn't more cohesive. Still, worthy of a 7/10.

I would like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film, although the subtitling on my copy lagged a little nearer the end.

It was a charming view of life at a Danish boarding school where two boys meet for the first time, and their friendship slowly evolves into something more. I wish that more films were like this and, having just finished watching it, I want nothing more than to start it again and watch it over, however I have to go out in 5 minutes, so I shall have to wait for tomorrow.

My only criticism is that the plot seemed to wander and be a little disordered at times. It had some, though fun, unnecessary sub-plots that could, to be honest, have been cut in order to have some more development of the two main characters, who were so well acted by the two boys.

I live every day with all the negativity that surrounds being openly homosexual in High School (I'm 14 and gay) and I can only say that I wish my own peers could be as accepting of me, and others like me as the other boys in this film, however, in our British (and even more in the US) society today, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding homosexuality and I feel that even today, thirty years after this film was originally released, most of the people I know would not be ready to see it, and that is a terrible shame as it is a fantastic film.

This is a great movie, and you will either walk away with a warm fuzzy feeling or you will simply start the move over and watch it again if, unlike me, you have the time.

This is not merely an enjoyable film, but it is a very unique and important movie too. This is the case because it approaches with taste and dignity a sensitive subject matter which is often regarded as taboo. The subject is that of homosexuality between teens and preteens. Bo is a 15 year-old boy who finds himself smitten with Kim, who is younger and extremely handsome. Kim more than reciprocates Bo's interest and passion. The result is a beautiful and loving relationship between two nice and decent boys. The movie contains incidental nudity and fabricated intimacy, however it is in no way vulgar or dirty. A previous viewer remarked that the musical score is unremarkable, but I found it to be both beautiful and catchy. Any youth who has experienced feelings similar to Bo's and Kim's may have found it difficult or damaging to attempt to discuss these matters with influential people, such as parents, teachers or peers. This may tend to cause such youngsters to feel isolated and defective. This movie offers vindication and progressiveness, even if the level of acceptance which Bo and Kim enjoyed is unfortunately somewhat fantastic. Maybe it's true, as this movie suggests, that characters like Bo and Kim (and people like me) really are not all alone in this world.

A film that can't be viewed from a cinematographic point. Just because it's not in technique where this film achieves something. As in any film, what gives it a strong value is the story it tells.

Due Er Ikke Alene is a wonderful escape to a time lost forever. A film about life. About misery. About love and happiness. About senslessness and about achievement. About systems and counter-systems. About people who can be under extraordinary

circumstances, and be as extraordinary as they come. About challenges and victories. About sex and about understanding.

About imagination, creation and clashes. About authority and reason.

Maybe not all these things are seen at first. They are the background. The solid background that gives credibility to the characters and power to the story.

A dreamer like Aske, puts the educational system in the limelight and leads the rest to discover why young people can think and do. Why there are reasons in life more important than just "living my life". Why the others are seldom regarded as the very motivation to do anything, and, when they become part of our lives, our view of our own can change entirely.

A naïve and deeply enchanting Bo, who only will do good. The one who makes this story so moving and so deep. His emotions, his beliefs, his feelings are rooted in a wonderful soul that cares about his friends. Someone always available to give a hand. With firm convictions and reassuring when anyone needs him. The peacemaker.

A beautiful and amazing Kim. His honesty, his absolute confidence in love and his smile make of him Bo's natural friend. What really makes this character glow is his smile. He is happy with life, even when he finds the normal bumps that lead others to despair or level things out with anger. He enjoys the small things. The ones that count. From a bit of fresh air to a bottle of wine (which, he discovers, should not be abused).

Most interesting is Ole's role. His character turns the balance of the whole story into something worth studying for any teacher, school system, etc. Ole is alone. And he needs the care provided by his peers. And, eventually, even with his bully ways, he mends his life and comes to terms with the world.

The seventies were times of amazing richness, and this is shown openly here. Maybe one of the issues that make your eyes shine is the open difference between what led to some modern educational ideas and how they clashed with the old ones. This was Denmark, and it was the seventies. The final act is freakin' awesome.

Watch this film. You won't be disappointed. Watch it thinking about the story, and this time (oh, it's me saying this... I can't believe it), just this time, forget about cinematography.

Excellent movie, if you have an open mind. The two boy's relationship grows in a very innocent manner. Even if you are heterosexual, you can probably identify with the feeling of your first infatuation for another person and all the little moments together that seemed special. This movie deals with first love, of another kind, in an extremely tasteful manner. My only regret is that, in America, people will not tolerate movies like this one. It makes it very hard to hear of, and also see movies with such an explosive subject. I would recommend it, if you can find it.