Ma vie avec James Dean

I just stumbled on this film searching on Amazon Prime last night for something to watch, decided to take a chance on it, and sat down all by myself with a cup of cinnamon latte to watch. Twenty minutes in I was sitting bolt upright with my eyes glued to the TV saying "Hold everything, this is REALLY good." Best film I've seen this year for sure. A comedy so well-written---understated, with restraint and few words, and new revelations throughout---and so well-directed and edited with impeccable timing and an acute eye for so many little comedic details that others would let slide. (I would only point to one perfect little exchange: "You're very tall." "I know." [I'm American so I have to go with the English subtitles.] Five words, but the visual is laugh-out-loud funny, and that little five-word exchange tells you so much about those two characters.)

So I was smiling through this entire movie, and frequently burst out laughing. I did not find it long at all; I actually wanted more. I would heartily recommend this little French gem to all my American movie-loving friends who might be craving a heart-felt and heart-warming comedy during this unending time of quarantine.

Breaking Glass Pictures presents awarding winning director Dominique Choosy (Mar del Plata Film Festival - Best Film "Confort Moderne" 2000) English Subtitled film, providing the viewer a glimpse into the world of the Film Festival. Young director Géraud (Johnny Rasse) is invited to Normandy to screen his film "My Life with James Dean". When his phone is stolen by a little kid, getting a ride to his hotel, meeting his host and finding the cinema are just a few of the obstacles he must encounter. Greeted by a preoccupied hotel employee (Juliette Damiens), a cinema projectionist (Mickael Pelissier) who comes to terms with his sexuality after viewing the film, and a Festival Facilitator (Nathalie Richard) who's full of her own issues, Géraud's festival experience becomes one interesting and at times entertaining challenge after another. However, Choosy, who is also the writer here, incorporates too many smaller story lines, thus leaving the audience with nothing really substantial to hold on to. Luckily, the Normandy seaside village (cinematographer by Laurent Coltellonie) provides a beautiful backdrop for the adventure, and some intriguing background songs (Music by Bertrand Belin) push the film along. Rasse is a handsome and interesting lead character (especially important in an LGBTQ film), who just goes with the flow without much hesitation. Young Pelissier is that innocent puppy everyone loves, but his secret and the repercussions are washed over. Damiens' and Richard are nice secondary characters who continually provide calm and angst in Géraud world. At 1 hour and 48 minutes, the film is long, and it's easy to get distracted. DVD/VOD release: August 28, 2018

This is the kind of French romantic comedy that we saw in "the old days" updated with several twists. The protagonists are gay. The ending (no spoilers) is great fun with a surprise. The classic younger/older matchup is delightful...the younger has more wisdom than the older....and it makes great sport of the fetishism of the James Dean cult. All in all, just the best way to spend a couple of hours....and yes it is over two hours to get there. Did I mention the beautiful Normandy coast line? The supporting players? Excellent work.

After a while and wondering where it was going I really fell in love with this film. The network of characters with their messy lives and their stories made me think at first that there were too many zany tales to tell, but then the film came into focus like a kaleidoscope settling and revealing beautifully diverse colours. All aspects of love revealed themselves. I will not reveal the plot which has more or less been revealed here but I do want to concentrate on the two male leads. Johnny Rasse as the film director was excellent, but it was Mickael Pelissier who made me laugh and filled me with joy. What an outstanding actor, and his passion was utterly believable and the outcome was absolutely right. One spoiler. Yes, he is young and his object of love and desire is older. But please to those who are offended by this, just say forget bigotry and that this is all on the right side of the law in France. To misquote a famous line; it is another country and they do things differently there. Dieu Merci !!! Maybe the film seemed long at first, but then I settled in and let the magic work and wished for it to go on forever. A great Gay love story. I cannot resist one observation. The two lovers in this film are age wise close to ' Call Me By Your Name '. There is a young man in that film who comes nowhere near as heart rending in his love as Mikael Pelissier.