Memorable, crazy movie

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

The acting in this movie is really good.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This film exceeds expectations on so many levels. The acting was a little stiff to start with but as you proceed into the film you pay less and less attention to it and begin to become enfolded in a different world. The fact that the other parts are all played by men seems to enhance the film once you've got over the initial shock of seeing them. I think both of the two leads (Young Simon and Vallier) played their parts admirably and deserve to go on to greater things.The screen play was fantastic for me but I would like to read the book to see what I missed out on. I think that I agree with another poster in that the biggest disappointment for me was that the older Simon looked and sounded nothing like the younger version which was a shame. The Bishop Bilodeau was very believable and the supporting role of the Countess De Tilly where both played with eloquence and style. The music that accompanies the film enhances the experience, particularly towards the end of the film. But for me, the one thing that stood out above all of these was a one line sentence spoken my Simon as he holds Vallier in his arms after the death of the Countess De Tilly. He whispers "I got you" That was all but with the music of the Hillard Ensemble behind it, it proved to be the most simple and most powerfully moving line I think I've ever heard. It still brings me to tears even now and I will always remember it.I love this film and I think its one that my family should watch for its uniqueness and moving portrayals.Thank you to everyone involved. You did a stunning job.

A very well-put together movie. The sort that feels complete and well-told after you watch it.Everything I would expect from such a movie: dramatic, tragic, and sexy. Definitely worth seeing.Someone commented that it was confusing... I found it a bit confusing, but I understood it all at the end. If I'd been paying a bit less attention, I can see how it would have been bad that way. But I think this movie is worth paying attention to see; the story is told in a very unique way.Or maybe I just haven't seen enough clever movies, making me really like this one.

A truly remarkable film. The characters are all played by males reminiscent of the days of Shakespeare. And what a delight to watch. I've seen it several times and am always impressed with the acting as well as the plot. This was a truly artistic endeavor above the traditional film making. One has to flow with the several roles to understand the interaction of the characters and appreciate the actors in those roles. Forget the gay aspect, and appreciate the brilliant acting and roles played out. Not a typical Hollywood mill production, but something with true artistry. A must see.

This film is proof that some of the most iridescent, incredible films never make it to mainstream America. Barely anyone I know has even heard of this movie, and it's quite saddening. Although it has won numerous awards and lots of prestige in Canada, where it was made, I've often seen it lying on the shelf untouched at Blockbuster or gay film shops.The movie begins with a prisoner named Simone who requests that a specific priest come to hear his confession. The priest, perplexed as to why he has been summoned, arrives at the prison, not knowing what to expect. It is soon divulged that the priest has some confessing of his own to be done when the prisoners trap him in his confessional box and begin to perform a play. This play is about Simone's childhood, when Simone was attending a Catholic all-boys boarding school and was in a gay relationship with his schoolmate, Valier. They keep their love clandestine until another schoolmate, Bilodeau (the priest as an adolescent), unearths something of what the two lovers have been doing. He confronts them about it, calling them a "disease," when it is revealed later that he is more insidious than they are.Things take another dramatic turn when Simone's father discovers his son has kissed a boy and mutilates his body with a whip. Out of searing rage, Simone succombs to arson. A Parisian woman (who is portrayed by a male actor because the play is being performed by male prisoners) visits the schoool and falls in love with Simone. Despite the distinctely male features on her which expose the actor's gender, the he does an excellent job of emulating a pristine, romantic woman desperately seeking love.Simone repudiates Valier, saying "it's time he started thinking about girls" and that he plans to marry the Parisian woman. Valier is devastated and runs to his mother, who is scorned by the rest of society because she believes herself to be a countess. She is shockingly compassionate and supportive when she learns of Valier's homosexuality. At the engagement banquet for Simone and his fiancee, Valier sabotages the celebration by dressing like a Greek God and reciting a monologue from the romantic Greek play he and his beloved were rehearsing together in the beginning of the film. And I can't tell you the rest. It'll ruin it. All I know is everyone should see this movie-especially gay Catholics. Incredible directing, eloquent dialogue, wonderfully abstract scenary-there's no way this movie could have been done better!