Opiniones de usuarios

The opening shots of 'Breathe' depict the tranquil facades of a quiet provincial town in Southern France as a new day dawns. A sensitive teenage girl called Charlie awakens to the habitual sounds of her parents arguing over the father's infidelities. By evening the marriage has disintegrated, and Charlie begins a new chapter in her struggle to avoid emotional stress.

Friendship with a charismatic new classmate called Sarah seems to offer Charlie some refuge from the painful aftermath of her family's break-up. The pair quickly develop a bond - but it soon becomes apparent Sarah shares some of Charlie's father's tendencies toward dishonesty and selfishness. Charlie's hunger for affection makes her especially susceptible to Sarah's deceptions and manipulations, and the relationship transforms into a quicksand of suspicion, jealousy and betrayal. The tension builds to a suffocating level as the shifting alliances of Charlie's teenage community increase her sense of isolation. 'Breathe' has some similarities to the American melodrama 'SWF', but it's far more credible, layered and well constructed. The film is also flawlessly written, directed and acted throughout, which makes its unexpected conclusion especially electrifying.

So she's a great director, too. I still haven't seen Laurent's 'Les Adoptes', but will close this gap asap after watching this her 2nd feature film. On the surface alone 'Respire' offers everything that's good about and expected from a social drama produced in Europe: hand- held camera, faithfulness to the light in which we'd see each scenery in real life, the effects being in the faces rather than in post production. The story being told by those faces as much as by film narrative, foremost by Josephine Japy's face. And the film unfolds as everything but mere surface. It's a very simple story, a school friendship going awry with tragic consequences, but Laurent's focus is on the subtleties of this relationship's evolution in each moment, and in collaboration with formidable acting this makes it a compelling watch. One small but powerful feature of film language that particularly delighted me was the smart use of slow motion: slow-mo is too often used in other films in a very annoying, bashful in-your-face way, here it is sparsely used, brief moments that follow the sole purpose of accentuating, and these moments work. The final result is a quiet, engaging, and ultimately disquieting and unsettling portrayal of the potency of emotional conflict at teen-age, of how unrehearsed and thus affecting, cruel and potentially dramatic and disastrous actions and reactions can be, especially if the pretence of adjustment hides the cracks of insufficient, failing or absent home support. Reacting increasingly becomes overreacting, foreboding eventual catastrophe; vulnerability takes vengeance on the greater vulnerability, and it is the containment of this greater vulnerability beating with the heart of the more reasoned protagonist that will in the end cease abruptly and give way to a surrender of control. The final take, as simple, precise and convincing as the entire film, is nothing short of ingenious. Praise be due to the performances of both leads, especially Josephine Japy (often reminding me of a young Binoche), as well as that of Isabelle Carre, playing Charlie's mother.

A classroom discussion on passion, right at the beginning of the movie, gives an indication of what's to follow. Passion in excess is dangerous says the teacher, in response to our lead character's question, but alas, passion by it's very nature is prone to excess. Controlled passion is near impossible. So it is with our introverted self-controlled, studious heroine, who tries to bring her feelings for her classmate under control. But the other girl just won't let her be, not knowing low close to the edge she's pushing things. The French students in this movie make for a refreshing change from the way high school students are depicted in Hollywood movies. Here, they are fairly mature, intelligent, interested in their studies, never bullying, certainly not hyper sexed. Why haven't I given it a 10? Well, as another reviewer said, you do wonder at times during the movie what the point of it all is...

Very close to being a French version of the 2003 movie 'Thirteen'. About two 17-year-old girls, Charlie, a privacy girl with the asthma and the new arrival, Sarah, a sarky with the mystery background. A fresh friendship bloom unexpectedly between them, they begin to share everything. As fast they become close, the each others secret reveals, with the same speed a series of conflict forces them away with hatreds. Once again a movie based on the novel of the same name. Melanie Laurent's 2nd movie from the director's chair and she outclassed it.

Intense drama, from the beginning to the end. The story concentrates only these two girls, their first meet, relationship development and the story's conclusion. Very rarely other characters come into the frame with little to deliver speech and exhibit the act. The first half of the film exactly like the first half of the 'Heavenly Creatures'. Closely showcases the two girl's establishments of an unbreakable bond who do lots of mischievous stuffs together. And the second half was like the second half of 'Thirteen'. The fierce battle like environment like the usual catfight, but fairly avoids the overdose which makes a worthy whole.

With you, I feel bad. I lie, I am hard. You make me play the bad guy. It's unbearable.

What makes a two best friends (girls) hate each other, a boy? That's how the story switched from one way to another, a turning point in the storytelling. But this film was not all about fighting for a boy, there's something else which was the backbone to the narration. Weaknesses becomes a pointed gun to the face to deal with. The circle of to be victimized and be a victim was relatively balanced. The incomprehensible teen emotions take the story with the sequences of blames and absolves.

What I don't get is in the most of the movies is at the end why the film character sees the camera. This doubt is because the whole film explains something, but that final frame gives a different dimensional meaning. Maybe the indication of reform, like that happens in the coming-of-age movies either good way or bad. So, according to this movie... Sorry, you have watch to know it.

Impressive display by the lead two girls. Music, locations, everything was fine and holds the story till the last minute with same the intensity, then all the sudden releases it with a shocking twist. It was so quick and unexpected at that moment. So there's where I was disappointed a bit. The end should have been a more suitable one than preferable for a strong finish. But no complaints for the rest, a good teen drama which presents the evolution of love and trust to hate and disgust between two characters.

7/10

If person like Sarah haven't not influenced yours life, than this movie can be to short to make reasonable impact on you. On other side, if yours life was strongly influenced by person like Sarah, then this movie could be a little bit to harsh. Before I met such a person I was unable to imagine that this kind of people could possible exist – it just does not make any sense. It was harsh to see this movie, but it is very good to be reminded in clear way that those people exist.

If you are an adult, mature enough to find teenage silliness boring, the first part of this movie will seem a bit slow paced. Once the pathological relationship between Sarah and Charlie become clear it will evince somewhat more interest. But I think the "surprise" ending will not prove to be a surprise to most intelligent adult viewers. And when it's all over you may justifiably ask yourself, what was the purpose of this movie? Entertainment? Only for those who find themselves entertained by a rather lurid world of teenage passions. I hope you're not sitting next to one of those. A cautionary tale for parents? Hardly. A character portrayal in which one can empathize with the difficulties of the two girls because their high school experience is so much like our own, or like others we knew? Not very likely. So the movie, if it serves any purpose at all, is for the vicarious enjoyment of a seemly existence and its consequences. At many points in the movie you are almost sure to ask yourself whether Charlie couldn't have made much better decisions in her relationship with Sarah. The class, at the beginning of the movie, which tells the students (and surely warns the rest of us) that passion and intellect cannot coexist is certainly a very French view and this comment is surely meant to underline the rest of the movie. Perhaps if this were the inflamed passion of adults, as in the Postman Only Rings Twice, this forewarning would be appropriate - but unnecessary. Here it is needed but doesn't help.

Respire is in all respect typical French drama. Apparently dry scenes, where you wonder if you're missing something. Restrained and subtle emotions that are confusing and irritating. A couple of dramatic plot twists. And beautiful, good, young actresses. I love it.

Josephine Japy as the introverted Charlie and Lou de Laage as extrovert Sarah are fine casted. Sarah can get under your skin. There are several moments in the film that I wanted to hit or hurt her. Charlie is often apathetic. I would kick her ass sometimes or shake her to wake her up. The crying and gasp scene at the end of the film is breath taking.

Although I'm far from the subject in age and I'm not a woman, I could easily empathize with Respire and it hit me several times like I was 17 again.

It starts out rather breezy, like an Eric Rohmer film of yore--sunny vacation days at the seaside, relationships not quite in sync, a highly observant drama with beautiful young actors in in believable situations. Soooo French. Will there be a moral to this tale? I will not spoil any further, but suffice it to say that it becomes MUCH more intense, and totally spellbinding.

The acting is phenomenal. The direction stunning, from Melanie Laurent, still in her 30's, a familiar actress who has graced many a production since 1999. (Although NOTHING could have saved the cosmically terrible Inglorious Basterds).

Don't miss this one if nuanced characterizations and intricate plots appeal to you.

This is such a strong representation of what an abusive relationship is. In order to create this dynamic, we need TWO people: one that surrenders themselves to avoid the other leaving, and the person who gladly takes and crushes the other's self esteem. It just was soul-crushing to watch Charlie feeding from her mother's insecurities and lack of self respect to just amplify them in her relationship with Sarah and leading to the eventual tragic ending of the movie. She learned she musn't speak, she must always keep "forgiving" this toxic person and do everything to keep them with you. Sarah, on the other hand, has always been physically abused, and psychology shows how easily the cycle of violence continues. She then uses Charlie to make her feel like trash, just like she has felt all her life.

I honestly thought initially this was going to be a romantic film, and oh man, how dark it turned!!! But it is an excellent film. This should be played on schools, and be analyzed, so teenagers understand how abuse is never right, how big is the role of your upbringing is and what could happen if you never speak up for yourself. It's just incredibly graphical.

Directed by "Shosanna", every film lover knows who. This film is an experience. Beautifully written, directed, acted and everything, Cinematography is exceptional. Starts like a very slow, very light teen drama, slowly gets the grip and becomes intense, still keeping its pace. A must watch for those who likes to watch a different movie.

There is scarcely a wasted moment in this beautifully acted, directed and edited film about two teenage girls (Charlie and Sarah) going through bouts of jealousy, obsession and seething cruelty. Within 15 minutes we've bought into their budding friendship and for 10 minutes we luxuriate in it. The opening half hour is exquisite, with snippets of brilliant writing and the entire cast delivering it with an air of nonchalance.

The first fracture in their friendship is subtle but distinct, when Charlie (Joséphine Japy) introduces Sarah (Lou de Laâge) to an old acquaintance as her "classmate" instead of as her "friend." It's not all downhill from there, but it's a bumpy ride, with a playful -- but hurtful -- slap, a slight disconnect at breakfast the next day, and then Sarah abandoning Charlie to take a plane ride with an old acquaintance of Charlie's.

While some other reviewers seem to blame Sarah for most of what went wrong with the friendship, I hold Charlie responsible for a great deal of it, especially when she secretly followed Sarah home and spied on her having an awful episode with her drunk mother. The next day, Charlie was quick to tell Sarah what she'd learned about her as if that invasion of Sarah's privacy meant nothing. Charlie didn't even expressly admit to snooping on Sarah and just acted like "it's no big deal, I found out more about your private life by spying on you." I don't blame Sarah one bit for being pissed about it.

After that, the friendship is broken and Sarah turns up the animosity and cruelty towards Charlie. Charlie just blows off all of her friends because she's become obsessed with Sarah. I won't spoil anything that happens in the latter half of the movie, but it becomes increasingly tense and fraught with emotional pressure.

Great job by Mélanie Laurent, barely 30 years old when she co-wrote this screenplay with Julien Lambroschini and directed her second feature film. Outstanding job by everyone involved with this scintillating and impressive movie.

Mean Girls, My Summer of Love, and many other like films have covered well the lesbian coming-of-age film. Breathe, a knowing but ultimately clichéd version of that genre, is a classy take on the angst of being a teen girl at anytime and anyplace.

Almost 18-year old Charlie (Josephine Japy) falls for class newcomer, charismatic Sarah (Lou de Laage), but Charlie has a challenging time catching her elusive, sexy girlfriend. The beauty of the film is the gentle way director Melanie Laurent treats the roiling passions of youth—an obvious thematic element as the teacher at the beginning of the film lectures about the downside of excessive passion.

The dull, washed-out landscape mirrors the depressing state of the working class and teen emotional adjustments. Shots such as Charlie wading into the water and looking at the horizon may be formulaic but nevertheless are a variation of the symbolic language, a part of this emotional teen overdrive: She is in water potentially over her head, and she can only guess at the events' future implications.

The scene of Charlie and Sarah's kiss followed by a slap is spot on to suggest figuratively the ambivalent, volatile nature of early love, regardless of the orientation. As the title suggests, this stuff is normal heavy breathing for young folks. Breathe is a breath of fresh air in a formula well known for film and teens.

Tennyson understood and embraced the passion: "As tho' to breathe were life." Ulysses

Right from the start you are in it . The character development was unreal- every character you feel like you knew within just a few scenes . What incredible acting from a young crew .

The thing is it isn't even really a love story - maybe they were lovers and maybe not - but it's the friendship that really kills you here - that makes this a tragedy . The level of love and trust and vulnerability shared to just get taken away for no reason , honestly it's more painful than a break up.

There were many great scenes - the baiting in the beginning with the question about passion and freedom set up the whole film , the montage of the developing friendship and the montage of the bullying - it all tied together and felt real and heartbreaking.

It left me thinking about what the real catalyst for this was - was it when she said Sarah was a "classmate " ? Was it truly just trauma from her mom coming to play in every relationship in her life ?

The victimization and narcissism was very well shown . The loss of interest in every other aspect of element of life , the total obsession born from grief - only to be torn apart again at a reconciliation ( seemingly )

Honestly is made me feel and it will make you feel too - feel betrayal and tragedy and loss .

Very quality film and worth your time .

The French movie Respire (2014) was shown in the U.S. with the title Breathe. It was co-written and directed by Mélanie Laurent.

Joséphine Japy portrays Charlene (Charlie), a senior in high school. She's intelligent and attractive. A new student (Sarah, played by Lou de Laâge) becomes Charlie's close friend. Sarah's mother works for a humanitarian organization in a developing country, so Sarah lives with her aunt.

The plot of the movie follows the two young women as they move through the last months of high school. It isn't always a pretty picture.

This is a powerful film, with solid acting by both leads. You wouldn't call it a feel-good film. However, remember that it was produced in France, a country not known for feel-good films.

We saw Respire on the small screen, where it worked well enough. The movie has a so-so IMDb rating of 7.1. I thought it was somewhat better, and rated it 8.

P.S. Every person in the movie smoked continually. The percentage of smokers in France isn't that much higher than in the U.S. I don't know if all the smoking was added for some reason by director Laurent, or if it reflected reality.