Genèse

Way too many long shots that provided nothing. If you do end up watching this movie, fast forward through those, it'll make it a little more tolerable.

Genése follows three characters. We are first introduced to the two siblings Guillaume (16) and Charlotte (18). The movie focuses on these two for most of the film. Then in the end it suddenly switches and introduces another character Félix, who is twelve.

Genése was a beautiful movie full of potential but unfortunately, it made a lot of mistakes.

First things first were the plot. I really really did not find the sudden switch to Félix and his childish adventurous in a summer camp intriguing. It felt like a completely different movie. You know singing, kids around fireplaces, first "serious" love. I was bored. The movie definitely did not prepare me for such a sudden switch. Since I watched it on HBO (in the LGBT section), I read the description and I knew that it's going to be about these three. But to the last moment, I hoped they confused names and wanted to write Alexis nor Felix. Alexis plays a small but very interesting part in the Guillaume storyline and it would be amazing to know more about him. Both storylines about Guillaume and Charlotte are cut off and left unexplained. I would like to know more. What happens after? It's okay not to know but at least explain what exactly is going on. What is the relationship between these two? Very close, but maybe show a bit more? What is their relationship with their parents? I read somewhere that they are half-siblings - I didn't catch that in the movie at all. But other than these slight issues and the big thing with Félix, the movie was amazing. I enjoyed it, I found it fascinating. Especially Guillaume and his incredible personality.

The other thing that was making me grind my teeth was the fashion. For most of the movie, I couldn't pinpoint the exact time it was in. Probably the 1990s, judging from the mobile phone, computer, and bike. The clothing could be also categorized into that era, but it felt too present-like. Which is completely okay. Fashion is circular and repetitive but it's never exactly the same. There are always some slight nuances - even if only little ones in the material, cut, style. But never the same. The fashion industry would crush if it would be. I didn't see any of these slight differences. Especially in the last Félix part. Suddenly the kids wore clothes more suited for the 2010s than the 1990s. There were crocs, ripped, and skinny jeans, and others. Since there wasn't shown any technology, I wasn't even sure if the time period didn't change. As you can see the last ending bit irritated me.

But to end it in a better note. The characters were done great. My favorite Guillaume had an amazing complex personality. But I could not properly distinguish if he was the good gentle guy and the bad bully guy. Probably both which is always the best, since life isn't black and white.

And to conclude it, I would give this movie a 6-star review. It could have been an eight, but they messed it up with the last part.

For me, this was a tough film to rate. On the one hand I felt it exceptionally portrayed some of the exuberance of youth and first loves. Yet, the movie also was difficult to watch, at times, as it starkly illustrated the devastating pain and sadness that can accompany coming-of-age. as well.

Maybe it's me but I had difficulty discerning which character was which, as the film often appeared disjointed. So bottom line: some good positives here, like the performance of Noee Abita, but on the whole the movie, written and directed by Philippe Lesage, could only be given a fair rating for entertainment value, as I see it.

Perhaps the folks who don't get it have had the fortune of never experiencing broken heartedness before. If so, their opinion matters not because they are the lucky few who have somehow avoided suffering and therefore personal growth. For the rest of us, those who have had our hearts broken, this film is a monument. Discovering betrayal, and allowing that to motivate poor decision-making which leads to further betrayal. Discovering years of friendship can disappear in a single gay moment, but having the courage to stand firm rather than hide or self-harm. And the touching innocence and rapturous joy of required love, young love, first love--that section ought to have reverberated with the fortunate few, had they kept watching.

It's a film about love and heartbreak. Is the pacing perfect? No. Is the music perfect? No. But the film is solid and the performances excellent.

I saw this at the New Zealand International Film Festival and I truly cannot remember the last film I saw that had this much contempt and hatred for its characters. It wallows in misery and subjects its protagonists to so much cruelty, before deciding otherwise in a totally pointless and interminable third act. Performances are strong but they are in the service of people who aren't characters - are barely even a collection of ticks. On an aesthetic level, Genesis makes some truly puzzling choices; crash zooms, long unbroken takes of panning to and fro, repetitive use of the same dull pop songs and a really poor sense of pacing. The performances are truly the only thing that work, and at over 130 minutes long, the performances are a very small saving grace within this awful slog.

I am not one to go in gunning for a film, and I was actually quite excited to see this. I hated it from start to finish, I was in misery, and I highly doubt I will see a worse film this year.