This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Sadly Over-hyped

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

This film truly is a work of art. And like all art, it's formalized; it doesn't even try to hide its formalism. The shots are squared and rigid, the duologue goes in circles, and there's a certain paralellism to the entire picture. It's not meant to be realistic, but like in all great art, it's by codifying and simplifying that deeper truths are revealed.Despite its minimalism, I was caught up in this film because the duologue is entrancing, the atmosphere is palpable, and the characters act in such mysterious (yet somehow consistent) ways that even though there are certain patterns to the behaviour, you never really know what's coming next. I suppose this film is a comedy, although you won't find yourself laughing much. It's more a case of being too absurd to be considered a serious, straightforward drama."Gouttes d'Eau" is not perfect (whit is?), but it has a certain "je ne sais quoi" lending it a uniqueness that places it in my Top 20. Definitely entrancing and thoroughly thought-provoking.

Fasbinder always creates an uneasy sensation in the watcher of his movie- the subject matter he picks up, the way he handles the character and plot, all leave a lasting typical Fasbinder prick somewhere deep in the psyche. For me this movie is a play of unsuccessful efforts by the innocent but weak willed people when confronted by self centered, haughty and mean character who knows that he has this quality to dominate weak willed people in to his submission, he derives meaning and fulfillment of his life.All the three character starting from the boy Franz to his once mistress, all of them are found to have given up themselves to that man. Even the girl who enters the plot seeking Franz succumb to this man's lust as meekly as Franz. Boy searches for happiness but end up serving to his master's happiness.Girl comes to seek happiness in the prospective marriage and bearing of child of Franz but even she too end up serving that Man. Mistress, played by Thompsson went even as far to change her sex just to keep that scoundrel Leopold in a state of happiness.All of the three sought their happiness in keeping Leopold happy which was nothing but total surrender of their chaste, pious and pure Will.Pious and pure soul by their nature is weak prone to be abused by the dominating will to its advantage. Once caged, howsoever hard one may try like in the last scene, it is impossible for one to wriggle out himself out free.Submission of general masses so tamely to the domination of Natzi ideology in forties as represented by Hitler is what this movie tells about at a more individual level. Boy and his girl friend both are brilliantly portrayed as pure and simple souls, capable of drowning themselves in serene music-only destined to be stopped and halted abruptly and later on to be mauled emotionally and herded in to the bed room by the dominating will. Pure souls are His creatures- only destined to suffer.

Another daring tightrope act from Francois Ozon, this time directing an unproduced play written by Fassbinder when he was 19. To say this film is offbeat would be an understatement; it doesn't proceed in any 'normal' way at all and by the conclusion you're left shaking your head with your jaw dropped. This is a good thing.

This is based on a play that Rainer Werner Fassbinder wrote when he was just 19 and his bleak outlook is very evident. This four character story starts out with a 50 year old German named Leopold (Bernard Giraudeau) who has brought home a 20 year old boy named Franz (Malik Zidi) and he seduces him and it doesn't take long for Franz to move in and cook his meals, draw his bath, clean house and do whatever else he wants. They bicker and argue but Franz doesn't leave. One day Franz has his ex-girlfriend Anna (Ludivine Sagnier) over to talk and they have sex for two days and they decide that he'll leave and they'll get married but he still admits he loves Leopold. Leopold arrives home early and they talk and it doesn't take long for Leopold to seduce Anna and then the door knocks and its Vera (Anna Thomson) who is Leopolds ex-lover and use to be a man! This film is directed by Francois Ozon and his films seem to deal with characters trying to maintain a relationship no matter what the circumstances. The character of Leopold can be described as Svengali, or a spider or a pimp. And the apartment that Leopold lives in is a very important element to this story. All the characters that have entered don't leave, or at least they don't leave for good. I think Franz realized this and thats why he committed the ultimate act. The last shot in the film tells the viewer that the characters are trapped in Leopolds web as Vera is unable to open the window. Ozon has developed into a very interesting filmmaker and this is a pretty thought provoking story. Its definitely not just a gay film. This is a provocative drama that is far more complicated than that!