When Night Is Falling

Pascale Bussieres, a Quebecois actress makes her English- speaking debut, as Camille, a teacher at a Christian college that has never let loose.

She is crying in a laundromat after losing her dog, when she meets Petra (Rachael Crawford), a circus performer. Showing up at the circus to deliver laundry that Petra left behind, Camille enters a world of fantasy that she has never experienced.

Canadian film maker Patricia Rozema (Kit Kittredge: An American Girl) gives us a strangely surreal world in which freedom and change battles repression and conformity.

The film was given an NC-17 rating, ostensibly for the lesbian sex scenes, and this affected the ratings given by some reviewers, but the heterosexual scene with Camille's fiancée was much more graphic. The lesbian scenes are tastefully done in a soft focus and very beautiful.

Everyone dreams of running off to join the circus at one time or another. In this case, it is a metaphor for being who you truly are. It takes courage, and we wonder whether or not Camille possesses that courage.

A gloriously beautiful film with a marvelous love story.

Bought this film a few years back. After viewing it, I came to the conclusion that it was by far one of the most beautifully and artistically directed films i have ever seen that deals with the subject matter of a girl meets girl. The lead actresses Pascale Bussieres and Rachael Crawford had great chemistry and were equally beautiful which made the love scenes all the more believable and erotic. There was no contrived or cliched dialogue and you sympathized with the characters and what they were going through especially when Camille was torn between choosing Martin and Petra. This is by far one of the best Canadian productions made.

I first rented this film 2 years ago & I am still renting it today when I go to the store. I have never seen love portrayed in such an open,honest,wanting & unsured of their feelings kind of way. It is presented in a way most of us feel when we fall in love for the first time or when we fall in love with someone that is not the norm according to society. Even to this day I am impress with the way Patricia Rozema show the characters in such an emotional way, that leaves the audience understanding why these two people fall in love. By the way Pascale Bussieres and Rachael Crawford were GREAT in this movie! After seeing this movie a viewer truly stops categorizing this movie(in a genre such as lesbian/gay, canadian film, etc)and see that showing a love story is the true purpose of this film.

Guys! Don't critize me too much!

I saw this in the Cinema when it first came out. I didn't know what to expect, I just saw this sensual looking movie poster and decided to go. I was not disappointed, in fact I was enthralled by the lushness of this most beautiful film. Simply put;a love story. The Protagonist, Camille is a Theologian, a Teacher of Mythology. Seemingly happy with her life pretty much mapped out. A handsome boyfriend, a tidy well kept life, a formal career within a religious school. Her world is shaken up by a chance meeting in a laundromat, with of all people a circus performer, Petra. What follows is Camille re-evaluating her life and her loves, the backdrop for her journey is the eclectic, vibrant, theatrical circus. Giving the viewer giddily beautiful scenes, from juggling orbs of light, to romantic interludes, amongst rich theater drapes. This movie took my breath away, I saw it 5 times in that cinema, then followed it to another one, when the run finished. In essence this film made it easier to come to terms with my own sexuality, because of that it will always have a special place in my heart.

Since accidentally buying this film a week ago, I've been watching it almost everyday. It is a very moving piece, incredibly romantic and beautifully shot. I have no expertise on movie direction but all credit goes to Patricia for her creativity. Apart from being incredibly gorgeous, the leading ladies gave a very moving performance, which intern moved me.