Arrête avec tes mensonges

"Lie With Me" presents to us a moving tale of first love, secret love and lost love.

On the other hand we also get to see a story about finding out the true character and personality of the ones close to you and also about being honest and candid to yourself. At the core of this picture stands the beautiful and complex acting performance of Guillaume de Tonquedec as the shy and introverted writer Stéphane, who has been and still is openly gay. As a parallel to his character serves Thomas - his first lover - who was in contrast to Stéphane the "popular kid" at their high school but was ashamed of being attracted to a man and as we learn throughout the film - was still ashamed to his dying day. Eventhough this dynamic might seem as a cliche (the "shy character gets secrestly together with the extroverted one") "Lie With Me" provides an interesting take on this genre with its use of queer characters and the fact that Thomas is struggling with his sexual orientation mostly because of himself and his own inner fights (not because of what people around him would think).

I must also mention the simple yet effective way the script was constructed in and also the splendid soft and charming music score.

I liked the novel and its adaptation was more than a beautiful surprise. First , because the book offers raisons of non adaptation. It seems the story of intense youth , very personal for viewer , who can be only discovered, page by page , as personal in some measure.

But the film has the gift to represent more than an inspired adaptation.

First, it is the merit of actors, offering a profound seductive experience.

Second, the virtue of script.

Not the last, the feeling of dialogue and precise definition of states , vulnerability.

A famous writer returns to the homeplace. The son of his love from high school is one of his hosts , in kind way. And the past, near the missing periods are one.

In short , a film for who is very easy - and fair to just grateful.

This review does NOT contain spoilers.

I was able to see this beautiful film at the Alliance Française French Film Festival in Australia. Based on the book "Arrête avec tes Mensonges," it was exceptional in so many ways. It was one of those films that leave the audience lingering afterwards to discuss it with complete strangers. For me it was the best film in the entire film festival.

The film was magical on so many levels, from the first scene to the last. The storyline, scenery, set locations, dialogue, acting, film editing, and striking soundtrack all worked together to create something very special. The performance from every actor was impressive. Two actors in particular stood out. Guilaine Londez, delivered a perfect performance in the finest detail. The real stunner was Victor Belmondo who lit up every scene he was in. His performance was tender, human and flawless. An amazing actor.

This movie explores the special significance of first love, coming of age, and the memories they create that last a lifetime. It was also a wonderful example of how we relate to another person who was unknown to us yet deeply loved the same person that we ourselves have loved. The common ground that two people have when they have both independently loved a third is thoughtfully explored.

If you love beautiful and deeply meaningful movies - this one should not be missed. It is really something special. Regardless of who or what you are, this film will stir up emotions you had forgotten you even had. I highly recommend this rare and special film.

As is the book, the story here is autobiographical and it is felt. The movie captures that quite well, there's a rawness to it that makes it feel like you're watching these events as they are unfolding whether they are in the present or the flashbacks. A movie that goes back and forth between the present and the past is nothing new, and someone reminiscing on their first love isn't either, but this film does a good job of it in the way it's structured. The flashbacks actually feel like memories, as bittersweet as they can be, and contrast well with Stephane now as he's still hurt by them and yet cherish them.

The whole cast is great but there are standouts. Guillaume De Tonquédec is the only actor in the cast I knew by sight but I've seen him more in comedic roles - at least that's the memory I have of him - but he nails it. His internal emotional turmoil reads perfectly as he comes back into town and meets Lucas. In the present scenes, it's mostly him and Victor Belmondo - famous last name and familiar features but the first time I've heard or seen him in anything - they are good but not as poignant as the flashbacks. Julien De Saint-Jean and Jérémy Gillet are just amazing in this film, their scenes give life and weight to the scenes in the present. These flashbacks are intense, believable, and capture gay teenage love well.

Lie with Me / Arrête avec tes Mensonges is sweet considering what it's about, even light at times but it works.

@garcwrites.

A successful French writer reluctantly accepts an invitation to pay an official visit to a small town where he spent his youth and where he fell in love for the first time. The more sour he looks about the whole experience, the more we understand that his love story back then was an unhappy one, and little by little we are given more details about what happened and why. This gradual narration travels back and forth in time and reveals very personal secrets of the characters, and before long we are introduced to what it all revolves around: shame. We are slowly shown how it presents itself inside and outside of a person, how it eats, erodes a person unmistakably destroying their entire life. We are also reminded that shame is an internal feeling but caused by external factors, which gives a lot of food for thought in the context of this film.

A wonderful screen adaptation of a novel. A delicate yet confident description of shame and its horrible consequences. Therapeutic. Eye-opening. Heart-warming.