Thomas est amoureux

thomas in love is an engaging story and with aesthetically pleasing cinematography and colorful sets

i wish the relationships between the characters could have been developed a bit more fully. perhaps casting was the issue because one 'cyber-girlfriend' was much more engaging than the other, which leaves you missing her towards the end of the film.

it might have held together better if it had focused on one major relationship. almost seems as if there was enough raw material to develop into two separate films rather than trying to smush both relationships into one.

but overall, a really enjoyable film!

warning: fast forward past first few minutes if you don't know your date too well-- gratuitous cartoon sex could have been handled with more subtlety. didn't add much except titillation to the storyline.

if you liked this film, check out Lynn Hershman Leeson's TechnoLust. Leeson adds a bit more humor but similar mise en scene & aesthetic.

After the film experience of Belgian director Pierre-Paul Renders' "Thomas in Love," if we think about it, the title literally says what the film is all about. Yet in the beginning, we probably don't pay much attention to this title detail, 'cos we are dazzled by the amazing computer-digital video work of Clara and her simulated movements & sounds in 'sextoon.' We get the story of Thomas Thomas, an eight-year agoraphobic 32 year old, by (not actually seeing him, but) his going about his daily activities strictly through the technological device and mercy of videophoning: his interactions with the people he calls up, talks to, cybersex with on screen through his computer. Yes, it may sound like a lot of conversations/dialogs, but the nuances are felt in between the subtle unspoken moments, hesitating pauses… The visuals are impressive: from bright colorful setups, to the intimate background/room environment the person on the screen is in, and the interesting symbols on the faces of each video-in-person, including Thomas' mother and her friends. We also get to view cyber poetry transmitted, and somehow get a sense of how a cybersex suit is applied and plugged-in for virtual two-way connection. It's truly an imaginative filmic experience and it's beyond simply hi-tech alright! The ingenious aspect is how sensitivity and emotions were definitely not lacking throughout the film (and humor is included.) Certainly more warm (and hotter at times) than Wayne Wang's "Center of the World" 2001.

Yes, if you appreciate the film "Thomas in Love," definitely visit its official site sponsored by IFC (served from Independent Film Channel's sextranet) - there is warning prior to entry of the site that it "contains content of a sexually explicit nature which is not suitable for young audiences…continue if you are over the age of 18 and not easily offended by sexual content." So, yes, this film is NFE (Not For Everyone.)

If you're curious about what possibilities of interacting in cyberspace are like, if you care about where love and its power may lead you, if you appreciate innovative and imaginative filmmaking - yes, don't miss Thomas In Love, and visit its official Web site, for sure. (Film is in French with subtitles, site is in English with occasional French.)

We caught Thomas est amoureux at the Virginia Film Festival this year. As we left, my wife and I (who have seen a number of really good films this year) agreed that this was one of, if not the best, movie we'd seen in a long time. It tells the story of Thomas, a young agoraphobic, who has not left his house in eight years and who interacts solely through the internet videophone on his computer. Yes, it is told from his point of view, which is as claustrophobic and inhibiting as you would expect. However, I thought it was brilliant - by the end, I felt as cramped and limited as the protagonist. ****/****

I'm surprised by the quantity of gushing reviews of Thomas in Love, which IFC is now showing on cable TV in the US.

This movie feels like a sci-fi short story developed into a short film by a student. The characters aren't very well-developed and the plot is small. The setting is foreign enough to be futuristic, but still familiar. The camera work is unusual and that's half of its charm. It's an exploration of an idea. A one-line plot pitch sums up the whole movie in its entirety. So many other films manage to create a spell in the time allotted to them, or create amazing characters with a wealth of subtleties. This movie doesn't manage that. It doesn't even attempt it. This is not to say it's a bad movie, just that it's not really all that noteworthy either.

While Thomas in Love is thoroughly enjoyable, fun, cute, and stylish in a gently cyberpunk way, it's not a stand-out.

Thomas In Love is a very interesting film from the first second to the last. It's not the least bit like any other movie I've seen, thus most likely, you'll either love it or hate it. It starts out on a computerized screen, and you begin waiting for the moment it'll jump onto "real life scenes". Now, that was one of the most enjoyable waits of my life, lasting longer than I thought. Thomas In Love is certainly watchable, and even more. Easily 3 stars out of 5, and maybe a 4th one.

But as I said, don't expect to see a Hollywood movie, or a European movie, or a Belgian movie. It's 100%, and not even 99.9%, different than any other movie ever made that I've seen. You might not like it, and as stated above, you could very well hate it. But you'll find it outstanding and interesting for sure, and you won't regret having spent an hour and a half with it EVEN IF you hate it. Watch it!