When Night Is Falling

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.

I finally saw the film and was very moved. The direction by Patricia Rozema celebrates the love between two women in a romantically subtle way intertwined with the most achingly haunting music I have heard in a long time. With kudos to the actresses (Pascale Bussieres and Rachael Crawford) for portraying the want and need, surrender,confusion, and finally acceptance of their love. I'm sure I'll watch it often and recommend it to others.

A professor once tried to define what makes classic literature. Timeless quality and value, stilted language... Whatever the definition, this is it. The intrinsic love forming between two women against race, religion, and promise. The spark of love in unforgiving winds... flickering. Captured in the surreal fashion that is too close to reality.

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.

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.