L'amour debout

When I first saw this film I had a sense of disappointment. I had read on French sites about it. I knew this was going to be very much a Paris film, and that it had both Schumann and Ravel on the soundtrack. What was there not to like ? And as I watched it I saw that this was a Paris I did not know, and that the music like the film was very quiet. I also thought that there were too many characters, and I did not like the young actor who played the male lead much. Without giving away the story, or rather stories, I felt let down by the experience. I was very, very wrong. ' L' amour debout ' has so many resonances in French and frankly the English title of ' Love Blooms ' is terrible. My interpretation of the French meaning is stand up with and even more stand up for love, heterosexual or homosexual, and the characters in their different ways do precisely that. A straight guy realises and fulfils his homosexuality, and a straight woman stands up for her love for an older man. This I do not consider spoilers as there is so much else to the film as well. A great French film from the 70's is not only referenced, but one of the lead actresses is in the film giving a moving performance that almost overshadows the rest in its quiet strength and power. This all hit me after long reflection on what I had seen, and when I awoke after sleep in tears I understood that the film's power had hit me hard. I realised that love could be lost forever for so many, and that cliché though it may be we have one life and that our true feelings are paramount and should not be denied. This film along with 'Theo and Hugo ' and ' Sauvage ' show us realms of loving not often seen in film, and even the films of the 60's New Wave avoided. A great achievement adding to the continuing strength of a truly adult French cinema.

This is, as some have complained, a slow burn film. Several new couples, gay and straight, find their way through the complexities of new attractions. It requires patience as most french films do. I liked it. Saw it two times. A few of the characters are annoying but I think it is meant to be that way. There is young and old. Casual and committed. So, the attraction is not immediately obvious. I liked the film, I liked the people and as an admirer of French cinema, I am not put off by a bit of indirection and wandering along the plot line.

What a Big disappointment with this Movie! I have to agree with other comments here where they say this Director wanted to show something but I quite did not get what it was. And yes it is a deceit that French Directors are my favorite around the world but this film was not very clear because there was not a specific story to define, even I tried to understand Martin's own definition of self acceptance orientation and Leah desperation looking for love with older men. I think The Story between Martin and his friend Sebastian could have a better development and the sexual scenes with the other gay guy lacked of sensuality and imagination. Also all the story was terribly boring with not real drama and just showing passages of Leah as Tourist Guide or Martin poor development in the movie Business as a filmmaker. In few words Not a good movie!

One of the things I like about French movies is the unexpected they casually introduce. This movie moves at a slow but not boring pace. It chronicles days in the lives of 25 year olds over the course of a year. How sometimes you find yourself doing things you never imagined as a teenager...the different paths we take as we become adults. I like the simplicity of the story. Some may not like it because it doesn't have plot twists. Who needs them? Sometimes life is like that, you know?

The cardboard characters are unconvincing and you couldn't care less about them. It's not clear if the director has something to tell us, but if he does, he doesn't know how....... A slow movie with no real story doesn't equal art as some suggest. There's one scene with a man that is supposedly sleepwalking, which the writer might have found funny. It isn't..... France has good movie directors, but this is not one of them. Disposable....