C.R.A.Z.Y.

As it has been said by others, this by all standards, not just as far French Canadian movies go, is a good movie. As somebody who grew up in Québec City I really appreciated how this movie really shows an intimate portrait of Quebec culture with all of its contradictions and beauty.

It showed how being an island of French in a sea of English does have an effect but that there is a definite Québecois culture which definitely bleeds into and mixes in with pop culture. For example the main character a young boy who is deeply conflicted with his sexuality is told he has the ability to heal people just by thinking of them if they are hurt...something which is uniquely Quebecois "old wives tale" The movie spans 2 decades or so, and the recreation of those decades from the house decor, to the music is really well done. The sound track shows in equal weights great Quebec classics along side such rock legends of the time of Pink Floyd and David Bowie.

The movie is great not because of a complicated twisty plot but rather really well acted and created characters. A very touching portrait of family life that can be appreciated not by just someone from that culture but supersedes cultural boundaries.

CRAZY was an exceptionally powerful and emotional film experience for me. This is an example of just how sublime the medium can be when everything comes together, cast, director, music. This film deserves to be graced with a string of awards and accolades.

I saw it in France with my late teens son, and we were both in tears at the end. I could not recommend more highly. I'd be interested in knowing whether it works in the same way for females, as for us it was a real father and son bonding experience. At times it felt like experiencing an intense poignant flashback experience of the epiphanies and rites of passage of one's own youth, and how we relate to our parents and siblings. A thoroughly uplifting experience.

Elsewhere in these reviews you been given excellent descriptions of performances and plot development. But, here and now, let's look a little deeper into our thinking about the three more important members of this C.R.A.Z.Y family: there's Michel Cote's "Dad"---he's the anchor around which "Zac's" life raft circles. And Marc-Andre Grondin's "Zac"---he's the one never so happy as when his father is accepting him.......acknowledging him. But never forget Danielle Proulx's "Mom"---she's every gay boy's "dream-delight" of a parent, the one who knows how to keep that 'different' child on an even keel.

Here's a film trip downright engineered to dig up / dredge out memories of times with "Dad".......times in car washing driveways, times of just-you-two car rides----"connecting times" you'd thought....you'd hoped......but maybe not. And for many of us, perhaps other not so happy memories raising their ugly heads-----yet despite such uneasy moments, we've still got to say: Thank you, Director Vallee.

Sudden inspiration!......did YOU catch it: Cote's "Dad" and Grondin's "Zac" are the 2-sides of the same coin. The two of them are more alike than any other 2 family members shown in this film. Sadly, how many wasted years and how much heartache til they found that out and, eventually, owned up to it. Repeating here, I believe a lot of "Dad's" 'problem' was that he sometimes realized he was a great deal more like "Zac" (or vice versa) than he was comfortable with. That's when their relationship would 'cycle down'. Ah, poor "Zac," how does one cope with that? Took him a very long time to figure out how to do so, didn't it?

Finally, one thing truly stands out for me, and that is how very difficult it has to be for an, essentially, first-time theatrical film actor to, let's face it, carry a 2+ hour movie.........this being Grondin's first-ever theatrical release film since reaching teenage. And as a final thought about Marc-Andre, why not admit it: what an amazing kid; even more, what a great 'package'.......what a gorgeous ass! What more could Grondin want from life?

PS--I'll tell you this---I'm gonna buy anything of Grondin's work that comes along. And Marc-Andre: if you're seeking an immigration sponsor, look no farther; I'm here.

****

This film shines. It exudes something tangibly different in its at times sensual photography, its sinuous, undulating changes of speed and motion. The story is refreshing, in that, although familiar, it is seen from a new, reluctant perspective - for me at any rate. I loved the embattled religiosity, that there was a loose acceptance in that Zac respected the beliefs of his parents, but never hammers home their differences in that respect. In others, though, inevitably there will be conflict, and perhaps particularly at the time of setting. An excellent character study in so many ways - even secondary characters are satisfactorily fleshed out, or have enough about them to warrant sympathy. Well written, well scored, brilliantly acted, and photographed.

Must go buy, now!

Well, I'm not very good expresing myself in English. I would prefer to write it in Spanish or Basque, but I'll try to do as well as I can.

I've just seen this film and I think that is marvellous. I used to love french films, but the Franco-Canadian films are very great too (see if you can Leolo).

The director and the play writer has madden a fantastic work converging reality and fantasy at once. I mean, sometimes in the film we can see fantastic elemments but paradoxically these elemments don't take away eloquence and realism to the film.

The director also has used the comedy to tell us the story, and that's really thankful for the audience. We make fun as the same time we become sad. Make a good comedy is more difficult than producing a tear-jerked drama.

Please, just go to your closest cinema (theatre) and see it. If you ca in Original version with subtitles ( I haven't got that luck, the 99% of the films in Spain are dubbed. I've to wait for the DVD to enjoy the film in french)

PS. I'm sorry because of my English.