Tom et Lola (1990) User Reviews

Brave Movie.

[what8890 · 7/10 · 4 May 2005]

Only the French could have made a movie like this, and it is a shame that movies like this will never be made again. . .

It was a bit strange and surreal and at the same time very bold and artistic. You really have to watch it at least twice to catch the point. Are they really aliens? Do they have a virus and need to live out their lives in plastic bubbles so as not to infect others? (I caught the fact that a virus is mentioned in a few parts in the movie) Do they have immune deficiently and have to live in a sterile environment? Or is the entire movie a metaphor for overprotective parents? As other's have pointed out there is nudity in the movie, however it is quite tame and not what most people would think when reading the reviews, and it was handled in such a way as to be both artistic, harmless, and to portray the innocence of the two--and in a way so that about a quarter of the way through the movie I stopped noticing it--and was more interested in what would happen to Tom and Lola.

The end of the movie did make me think, and I was both happy and a little sad for the both of them. I must say as a writer of Science Fiction and Fantasy I liked the movie and give credit to the film's creators, writers and actors for undertaking a very bold and interesting project.

As I said, this is a rare, interesting and visually imaginative movie, the likes of which we will probably never see again . . .

Save or imprison?

[MasterAslan · 7/10 · 8 October 2006]

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.

A rare object of cinematic art.

[shneur · 10/10 · 6 December 2005]

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.

Strange flick

[Reelboy-2 · 2/10 · 27 August 1999]

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.

just wonderful

[davkim1701 · 9/10 · 29 August 2006]

a wonderful film that will move you to tears and also make you smile often, i felt privileged to have seen this and spent some time trying to find a copy as it is not readily available, came across this site and have downloaded some films, this is my number 2 film after the film Urga for which you need to make use of the subtitles,i watched this and others with my eleven year old daughter, this being the first time she watched some quality instead of the usual dross,she said and i quote "i didn't think they made films like that" she was in tears but also elated bu the experience, there is not much else i can say. watch and enjoy. free to download via torrent at secret-cinema.com.

Bare buddies like bare fibers of our innerselves trying to escape and connect...

[MrYou · 10/10 · 5 February 2000]

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....

comment on trivia item

[suhwahaksaeng · 8/10 · 21 November 2018]

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.