Tom et Lola

This is a beautiful French Surrealist film about what makes us human and what makes life worth living. The two main characters are a boy and girl of about 10 who, due to some indeterminate immune deficiency, have lived their entire lives in plastic bubbles, isolated from the natural world and their own natural developmental influences. Nevertheless, their humanity blossoms even without nurturance, within themselves and toward each other -- yearning, stretching, reaching until it can no longer be contained by even the most constricting and ugly environment. The children are intentionally semi-allegorical: naked, their hairless bodies and shaven heads hide nothing. They are elemental, undecorated and unadulterated human beings, and when they touch each other the contact is so primal that we all shiver. This film is a masterpiece of direction (Bertrand Arthuys) and cinematography (Francois Catonne), and the children were superb. I was sad to see that neither of them continued to act in film. As for the twists and turns of the plot, and a rather unexpected (to me) ending, I shall say no more, except that you will find nothing disappointing here, from the first scene to the last.

This is a beautiful treat for visual enjoyment. The very simple idea of two "overhealed" or "overwatched" little souls wanting to rebel and discover and explore and travel and kiss and connect. Simple, but beautifully stripped for us to enjoy seeing something that we already know. It is like life breathing on you from the screen, the dream life.... Don't expect anything especially deep or revealing from it, just "Alaska, Tikera :)".... But you'll remember. Thanks to Bertrand Arthuys for this exceptional work....

The plot of this movie (two ill children escaping the bubble they live in to take on an endeavour in the outside world) is very thin and failed to sustain my interest. Perhaps, the symbolism didn't get to me. Many times, I asked myself where all this was heading. The poetic aura left me emotionally disconnected and questioning the purpose of my viewing. It is however, a very unusual and gutsy film for which the director should be praised. For those easily offended, please take note that the children, portraying the title characters are nude for nearly the entire movie.

Two isolated sick children get rid of their life and dream about Alaska (as an excuse for freedom). Being at the hospital for your entire life and having just one person around you who can understand your feelings could be really annoying when you are reaching the age you are big enough to feel lonely and to begin to understand the surrounding world and your true situation.

Nice visuals and nice plot, maybe a little slow at times. I just don't get the point about so much children nudity, apart of that I recommend it as a cry for freedom, sometimes life and quality of life seem to be quite opposed.

Thank you for the explanation. Tom and Lola's nudity was explained by their immune deficiency, but when I first saw the movie, I didn't see any explanation for the nudity of the three children. I suspected that the producers were merely supplying the viewers with another serving of eye candy.