A Masterpiece!

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Juste Une Question D'Amour Director: Christian Faure. Starring: Cyrille Thouvenin, Stephan Guerin-Tillie, Eva Darlan. A beautiful emotive portrait of love between two people who are opposite ends of the coming out process coupled with strained family relations and emotional upheaval. With broad-brush strokes and delicate touches of colour and humour Juste Une Question D'Amour, gets to the heart of human emotion in a pure and faultless way. There is an refreshing honesty in the characters and storyline that really is a joy to watch, especially as it navigates well clear of the supposed stereotypes that can often dog other releases from the gay cinema industry. There are no drag queens, no leather men, no simpering disco dollies with their heads in the clouds and no randy bears lusting after the next young cub to wander in sporting check shirt and dirty Levi's. Nope, this is so not that sort of movie, there are just ordinary people here, just nice average ordinary folk and it is so much the better for it. A heart-breaking portrait of suburban and rural French life, Juste Une Question D'Amour follows two weeks in the life of Laurent, a fascinating young French guy in his very early twenties as he navigates some difficult personal circumstances and decisions. Laurent's family are hideously beset with deep-seated homophobia, Laurent's own cousin and childhood best friend, Marc, was completely disowned and ostracised when his sexuality became known. The entire family, with the exception of Laurent refused point-blank to visit Marc in hospital before he died.We see Laurent's family, his father and uncle talking about how homosexuality disgusts them and his grief weary mother is seems to be walking through life in a zombie like state, so consumed is she by her own thoughts, her own grief who swallows half a drug store each day just to get by. Laurent has unsurprisingly and understandably retreated away from his own sexual identity, as well as his family to some extent. On the occasions when he does visit, he is never alone, he takes his friend and roommate Carole with him. There are some beautiful moments between Laurent and Carole that are light, easy and yet so full of affection and care they are a joy to watch and had Laurent not been gay, you know they could have made a lovely couple. Beautiful scenes follow as the two young men get to know each other, explore the others personalities, ideal and dreams. There are moments of pure tender reflection, infectious affection, laughter and just a little pain. Laurent is amazed and secretly impressed with the open attitude of acceptance by Cedric's mother, she bat's not an eyelash, let alone lid, at her sons sexuality. So far removed from his own first hand experiences, it opens his eyes and his mind a little further, expanding the realm of possibilities.Cedric's mother is a deeply feeling and intuitive person, she is also refreshingly honest and makes no bones about the fact that she wishes her son were straight, yet as she calls it, it is better for her son to be gay and part of her life, than be gay a not part of it. The mother- son dynamic works incredibly well here and they are such believable characters that you cannot help but feel drawn and warm to them. The affection, care and love is clear to see, enjoy and almost taste.Cedric's mother does not want her son to be unhappy and heart-broken again and you get the impression she has the same feelings toward Laurent, that whilst Cedric is away in Paris, she decides on a little trip herself. Off she drives to the country village where Laurent's parents run a little drug store. Once there she tells them she wants their help to get their two sons back together. Now there is some ambiguity surrounding her knowledge, did she know Laurent was not out and therefore forcing the situation, or did she genuinely believe he was as open with his parents as her son is with her? Either way, the news that she brings is not welcome and goes down like Gary Glitter shopping in Mothercare! Laurent is beside himself when he finds out what she has done, it is all his worst nightmares arriving at once. His head and heart are pounding yet answers are far from his confused mind. His parents are equally as distraught and muddled and you recognise there is going to be much soul searching and tears falling before bedtime.It is an achingly poignant and deeply affecting movie for its realistically honest depictions of human relationships in the crux of death and revelation. It shines a light on the scenario or situations that many gay people go through on the 'coming out' bus journey. It affectionately and decently deals with a range of views and emotions, without ever getting confused. It is also a film about love, first love, real love, family love and friendship love and what each of those mean and how they make us react and engage. Read more and find out where this film made it in the Top 50 Most Influential Gay Movies of All Time book, search on Amazon for Top 50 Most Influential Gay Movies of All Time, or visit - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007FU7HPO

This powerful, humane, intelligent drama was made by, and appeared in prime time on, France 2. It received just three letters of protest along with thousands praising its astonishing young actors and their memorable story. Try to imagine such a positive, thoughtful film on American broadcast television; one simply about the impassioned relationship between two men. No one gets sick, beaten up, or dies. It's just a question of love.Cyrille Thouvenin (so wonderful in another must-see, Confusion of Genders) stars as angry, frustrated, deeply-closeted Laurent. He is terrified to come out to his parents because they are so virulently homophobic. He witnessed his cousin's coming out: disowned, thrown out, and died without his family around him. Laurent lives in fear with his best friend Carole, who goes along with the fiction that she is his girlfriend for the benefit of his parents.Then he meets Cedric (handsome and exceedingly sexy Stephan Guerin-Tillie), with whom Laurent has a college internship. After a rather combative start (neither young man is particularly adept at 'making friends'), sparks fly, and the two revel in a joyous fling as they discover love. The heat, happiness, and fervor they project is palpable, gratifying, and genuine.The problem is that Cedric is up front about his sexuality and makes a huge deal about Laurent coming out; Laurent is truculent, defiant, and refuses to consider it. Carole is tired of the charade and has a love of her own to nurture. Everyone wants Laurent out, but he is immobilized. When Cedric's mother impulsively let's the cat out of the bag, Cedric and Laurent's private world falls apart. How they, their parents and friends, deal with the consequences forms the crux of the illuminating story.This transcends being just another 'gay' film. It is about learning how to love. Gay, straight, old or young, all must learn. As for Laurent and Cedric, rarely has a simple "I love you" been uttered with more poignancy on film.

I cannot tell you, with any great insight, the lessons to be learned with this film or the messages it may send to those who do not (choose not to) 'understand' homosexuality. That's not to say they are not there, or that this film fails to make those connections because it does. It speaks for those mistreated, it makes clear the tragedies that come with this prejudice, and does so - in my opinion - without being preachy, or pointing angry fingers.For me, it is simply a story of love. A love that proves to be so special, that the two main characters - Cedric and Laurent - are willing to make crucial decisions, and changes in their lives for its survival. It is these two men; with their boyish behaviors - the joking, teasing and name calling - and the easy way they are together, that make this film. Superbly acted, this is a story that you can believe in.

***some spoilers***I saw this movie and was totally amazed. If you love foreign films you have got to watch this one. Although considered of the "gay-themed" Genre, it totally transcends that label. It captures the essence of extreme passion, especially when Cedric and Laurent first get together; how one has to hide his true self for acceptance, especially from his family; and how a family, especially mother's, react to their son being gay. One aspect of gay-themed movies often neglected is how a gay man's female best friend always yearn for him, even though she has a lowly chance of ever getting with him.THe acting was superb, you really feel like there was real chemistry between the two main characters, although in some scene you could sense that Thouvinin was uncomfortable with the kissing. Gearen-Tillie, was in total control of his character, he was gay but not feminine: counter-intuitive to most other gay-themed movies.