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.

The story grows dynamically, loses plot sometimes but manages to make the mark. Interesting characters, choices and what they are left with. Understanding in misunderstanding. Pitfalls of an open relation. Taking a spirally downward journey because of one bad decision or maybe misunderstanding. This will have its audience coming regularly. The problems, the solutions, being true to oneself. Growing from teenage to adulthood. Nice. Give it a try sometime.

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.

The reviews seem very mixed here and there is a contradiction somewhere because the ratings it gets are very high. The last part in the camp was interminably long and what Lesage was trying to say eluded me. Before that section the film was fine, well acted and then we lost the characters and were in my opinion presented with a whole new film. It is a pity as I liked the slow pace, the music, the cruelty and fumbling way ' relationships ' form and fall about. The declaration of love in the classroom was a standout scene, and for me was at the heart of the film. But in all the scenario and direction of narrative did not hold its force. I watched it late at night and had paid no attention to how long it was and this may colour my view of the last section. It may well be a masterpiece, but like those first audiences for Antonioni's ' L'Avventura ' I was torn between booing it and applauding it. And please anyone who reads the keywords do not think this is an LGBT film. It could have been but to me the director clearly decided to make it ' Universal '. I use this dreadful word but that is how it seems here, and probably that was a mistake. To me Universal is just a studio! A difficult film.

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.