mayarovina-606-28555

There were two versions filmed concurrently of this film : one , Monsieur Ripois , in french , and very good it is too . There is also the English language version called Knave of Hearts , or Lovers , Happy Lovers , or Lover boy . This was still quit common at the time , and the English language version is even better . Gerard Philipe is even more charming , but also more spontaneous and vulnerable . I have only seen this version once , 20 years ago , but it has really stuck with me . If only someone would release this version ....

A sensational made for T.V cautionary tale that was base on a - so called, true diary of a teenage drug victim - with the emphasis on VICTIM. Not only was the book written by a middle aged woman who also just happened to be a devout Mormon, so that pre-marital sex is portrayed as AT LEAST as destructive as drugs, but the dialogue has a very phony and clichéd sound to it. This is not helped b the fact that all the " teenagers " are portrayed by actors in their twenties, an that the lead actress is completely vacant and one dimensional from the onset. The ending is also ridiculous. If you want to see a realistic film about teenage junkies in the late seventies ( all the kids are played by actual teenagers of the relevant age ) may I recommend Christiane F. it's gritty and still shocking after more than thirty years.

I am very glad to hear that a restored version of this beautiful and moving film is finally available! Having read the book at the age of sixteen ( MANY years ago! ) I was very surprised that the hero's feelings of intensely conflicting emotions were so perfectly conveyed - I shouldn't have been surprised seeing as it was the great Gerard Philipe. All we can hope for now is that this version will be made available on DVD as the only version around at the moment is a dubbed one. Let us also hope that more French films made in the era before the so called "New Wave" will be released so that a new generation (and the odd old fogey)can enjoy some great film making!