The Gymnast

I give it a 5 because it is has a couple of strong elements that allows it to rise above the many bad movies that are made these days. Unfortunately, this film also has many substandard elements to it. The aerials and the athleticism of the two principles are by far the best part of this movie. That part was well done, not overdone and definitely worth watching. I do a lot of dancing and athletics so I appreciate genuine athleticism mixed with art. The ending was also quirky, entertaining and not predictable.

Around the aerials and the ending, we get bad movie crafting and off-the shelf components that make the overall experience much worse than it should have been. The movie stands as a showcase of the aerials. The other elements are so bad that at the end, I would have preferred a quasi documentary using the aerials and snips of the training and interaction set to some music.

Obviously, some people are very "into" the theme of an "older" woman (she's not that old) who remains athletic. That appears to have them ignore the bad acting (both too little and too much at times), chunky directing/editing (really bad and it made the acting appear even worse), and predictable and old hat story elements and characterizations (the men-are-evil and traditional-families-are- stifling elements were particularly tired and unimaginative). The same can be said for the symbolic imagery. If you have been watching movies, you've seen all of this many times before.

So let's not make this out to be some kind of masterpiece of movie making! Let's appreciate what is genuinely good here and not pretend that the bad movie crafting and off-the-shelf elements are something special. They are not. Smoother directing and editing would have helped a lot. The story is totally predictable from the start with the exception of the ending. A thought came to me that this is "When Night is Falling" with the deck shuffled, the principles actually performing and focusing on the athletic routines and minus the dog. That might sum it up.

Now maybe it had something to do with the fact that I saw this movie at a low point in my life, when I was really trying to figure out where I was going and what I needed to make myself happy, but this film really spoke to me. Jane is an everywoman: although she has so many positive things going for her, she is still vulnerable and unhappy in her life. She is strong and intelligent, but she was cheated out of achieving her potential by an unfortunate accident and is living a second-choice life. She seeks out new challenges and happiness, seeking desperately to fill the hole in her heart. Dreya Weber is an exquisite Jane. As we journey with her we feel the depth of her despair, the torture of her desperation and, eventually, the strength of her conviction. The beautiful Addie Yungmee is also very well cast and an asset to the production. Allison Mackie is a scene stealer as a saucy character with impeccable timing. I highly recommend this film; although it's low budget, it has big budget writing and production values. PS- great aerial scenes with two beautiful sexy women. Women will love the story and characters, but there's something for the men here, too. :)

One thing that's almost invariably true about romance movies is that they are, to one degree or another (or several), ham-handed and contrived. Few are the titles that aren't, and fewer still when we're talking about LGBTQ+ pictures. Lesbian romance films in particular are too often reliant on added drama that makes the relationship unlikely at the start, and unlikely to continue at the end. 'The gymnast' is definitely not free of these qualities; anyone sitting to watch already knows pretty well what they're getting into, and anyone who can't get on board with the style won't have their mind changed here. Ultimately it's fairly enjoyable - only, there aren't necessarily any major surprises on hand.

Well, at least one surprise. What's most immediately noteworthy and indeed commendable about 'The gymnast' is that the chief cast are themselves experienced with varieties of dance, gymnastics, and choreography. Given the backgrounds of Dreya Weber, Addie Yungmee, and Mam Smith, the actors get to genuinely perform their own stunts and routines. The result is that while this is marketed as a lesbian romance flick, there's also real, unmistakable artistry behind the production, and touches of realism in the depictions of these skills. I'm reminded, in a small way, of Patrick Swayze's 2003 film 'One last dance,' which included specific plot but also concretely centered dance, and the performers' physical grace and prowess. And on that note, too, the filming locations are absolutely choice, especially the dancers' rehearsal space. Filmmaker Ned Farr also demonstrates an unexpectedly sharp eye for shot composition, furthering the quiet brilliance underlying the narrative.

In that regard, if nothing else, 'The gymnast' kind of impresses as something a little out of the ordinary. I wish I could say the same about the writing, but that's a more thorny area as the picture mostly falls into the same trap as a preponderance of its brethren. It's a long, slow build to any meaningful flicker of the anticipated romance, and once we do get it, the film still focuses more on the ancillary drama rather than the relationship itself. I suppose that gradual progression is more natural and believable than just throwing the two women together at the first opportunity, and it's at least gratifying that the story ends on a distinctly positive note - also a rarity in this niche genre. And the very last scene, playing out intermittently over the end credits, almost feels like an acknowledgement by the screenwriter of the problems common to LGBTQ+ pictures: We get a wholly superfluous additional story beat of pure melodrama, paired with a cheeky, winking response to it. The penmanship here isn't sloppy, or accidental, and it knows what it is. But, still, would that this mindfulness were applied to crafting a story that more emphatically broke from the mold of its cousins: put aside the dance, and 'The gymnast' would struggle to stand out.

Nevertheless, if imperfect, this is duly entertaining, and serves its purpose. The cast are fine, the technical craft is solid - and apart from the filming locations and set design, the costume design is also pretty great. And, once more, the scenes of dance and gymnastics that we get are honestly a joy. It's unfortunate that the feature isn't similarly grabbing in other ways, but at least it's done well enough that viewers looking for a lesbian romance will feel right at home. You don't need to go out of your way to see it, I don't think, but if you happen to come across 'The gymnast,' there are a lot worse ways you could spend 100 minutes.

This film tackles the subjects of loss, personal struggle and transformation in such a smart, artful, sensitive, and visually stunning way that I was completely transported. It is a rare gem of a film in the way it honors beauty and women. You'll have to see for yourself. Dreya Weber (Jane) masterfully portrays the subtleties of a remarkable if not somewhat broken personality, in a way that every woman will relate to. I found the honesty of the emotional interactions among characters to be very refreshing and profoundly engaging. There was nothing in this film that said to me "low budget" as far as quality is concerned. Nothing. The fact that it is a low-budget film is a tribute to the film's creators. The final sequence during the credits will also knock your socks off. It is a brilliant celebration of Jane's choice. Unexpected and inspiring.

"The Gymnast" unfolds in short shots and short scenes, revealing its characters and message over time. The spare editing is accompanied by a beautiful, simple score. This intimate approach is wonderful for feeling like you're on a path of discovery as much as the characters are.

The spare approach is also its drawback; there are a few scenes that are confusing because they don't have enough context. There are some decisions made by the characters that seemed rather flip until I watched the interviews that were in the bonus materials. I'm glad I did, because the actors' descriptions of their motivations gave me a much more well- rounded understanding of the film overall.

Aside from the story itself, it was wonderful to see women so comfortable and strong in their own bodies. The shooting was very tastefully done; very matter-of-fact. One has the feeling of seeing a love story and a life story unfold, not a voyeuristic sleaze film. The physicality of the athletes -- their realness -- is a great contrast to the sometimes ethereal nature of the plot.

Not a film I'll need to see again anytime soon, since the storyline is simple but its delivery is powerful enough to stay with me for a long time.