Défense d'aimer (2002) User Reviews

Admirable effort but a bit slow

[wingboy696 · 6/10 · 19 June 2003]

Bruce, a French 24 year old, moves to Rome to study at the Villa Medicis and develops a crush on Mateo, a handsome Italian man of the same age who is interning at the Villa. After a period of infatuation, the two commence a short but intimate relationship. However, Mateo ultimately shuns Bruce. The remainder of the film deals with how Bruce copes with Mateo's rejection.

The acting in the film (especially the actor playing Bruce) is quite good, the shots of Rome are beautiful, and the movie will definitely be appealing to those that like European-style movies. However, overall I thought that the pace of the movie was too slow, and the plot was overly dramatic and plodding. By the time that the unexpected ending occurs, I was glad that the movie was over. Overall, I would give it a "B".

Don't Smoke and Direct and Act and Write!

[Cufflinksandtie · 5/10 · 8 August 2009]

A perfect example of why a writer and actor would NOT direct. The vision Marconi may have had on paper are poorly translated to the screen. A creditable actor, Marconi's script is nonexistent. Marconi the director covers the inadequacy by flinging the camera around, placing worthless shots and probable outtakes into the body of the film as if there is an artistic need for obfuscation and eye strain.

The jarring scene of Bruce walking into an unknown character's room, knowing that he haws "bronchitis", and beginning to light up a cigarette is just one example of how tone deaf this film is. The interesting face of the unknown character is not explored or used in any meaningful way. That he has AIDS (never mentioned, only hinted at)is signaled by a laughingly-staged cough. With no character development, we are left to focus on the Writeractordirector, which is probably what he wants.

I'm frankly tired of French Smoking Movies, and Movies Where Gay Sex Equals Death. It's not that big a deal to have sex with anything. He might have produced a satisfactory and more credible ending if he hadn't been wearing so many hats and smoking so much.

A mixed success at best

[sandover · 20 September 2008]

Handsome young Bruce goes to the Villa Medicis as a guest and eventually, among the inspired (sic) scenery, gets infatuated, then obsessed with an Italian boy of his age who works there...That is the main guideline, I would think, where it not two basic features that counteract this statement:

the music is so prominent that it does not allow the otherwise good cinematography settle in, nor give a realistic touch to what is presented; at some point we get something like a hint of why this is so stubbornly going on: when Bruce starts talking to his imaginary lover and the obsession starts to suck him in, the music was on the verge of becoming a heartrending vehicle portraying his obsession, but this does not add up in the end, even though here and there the director makes his point.

The second feature is that I am not at all sure the infatuation or obsession is directed to the supposedly erotic object, namely Matteo. Early in the film, already beautifully filled with the brooding looks and silences of the main character in an equally sublime and somewhat haunted environment, we get a glimpse - slashing flash, that is - of his soul for the first time: we learn that he has lost his brother from what we suppose is aids, since all this is touchingly half-said between him and another, fleetingly presented, intern.That is all, and it is enough. It's all the combustion needed for what is atmospherically hinted before, and what can suffice for what comes next. It can be that all his obsession revolves around the loss of his brother, and Matteo just happens to be there filling in a place triggered by Bruce's going to Italy, and, also, Matteo's words about Moravia's male characters at some time: that they have in a way to be disappointed in order to enjoy. This is a wonderful tip about Bruce's inner state, but it doesn't actually work.

The film suffers from too many loose moods, a faulty pace, intrusive music and an exaggerated ending. Yet if one looks for fine acting, and especially the kind of acting that is expressed by the eyes only, well, Marconi, that is the actor that plays Bruce, does a fine work against all odds. Also, given that he actually is the film maker and 24 years old, then this is really promising, and even though not quite successful, touching.

Simmering Potboiler of a coming-out story

[Havan_IronOak · 7/10 · 6 June 2003]

When Paris born and raised Bruce meets Rome born and raised Matteo, sparks fly but both are convinced that they are straight. Will they won't they?

Matteo seems to love flirting with those "Jared Leto" eyes and loves to fall asleep in Bruce's bed. But, is he flirting because he wants something to happen? Or is he just torturing Bruce? Enjoying twisting the knife as it were?

The film is emminantly watchable even if the attitudes seem a bit dated. It reminded me a lot of the scenes of unrequited longing in "The Fourth Man" but without the masterful use of suspense.

Slow , but Effective

[larapha · 7/10 · 20 November 2016]

The aspect that most attracted me in this film was the turmoil through which the character of Bruce (Rodolphe Marconi) goes. Is he in love or not? Is his friend somewhat in love with him or not? That's something awfully common in our lives, where love seems to be always in the wrong place, being corresponded to a certain level, but only to a certain level. It's also interesting to see the boys pretty out of preconception towards their feelings. They don't ask themselves whether they are gay or not. They simply are, and let their feelings flow. But the movie is awfully slow. We have to deal with sentiments that are going to be shown by gestures, actions, very little by words. And love is something that can bring great anguish. That's what happens here. As a hole, I think it's a film that will let you enter in a world where people in their twenties will have already dealt with, and most people will be related to. I found the ending a bit out of the film, inexplicable. But lead me to a lot of thoughts.

A must see film about character development

[ee1226 · 10/10 · 16 November 2003]

A brilliant and economically photographed character study. Other users have commented on plot, on this and that, whatever. Please note the gentle use of foreshadowing and diversion (or red herrings) throughout the film. I must see it again for this very reason. The obvious uses are the digitally filmed closeup shots in low-light of skin in Roman church art masterpieces leading up to the parallel shots of skin when the actors touch ... but note in particular the clenched hand on the sheet at the end of that scene, to be followed later by a montage of clenched hands on ancient statuary (interspersed with an angel) and the almost penultimate shot of a hand at the denouement .... Cinematic style, very specific choices of music, and such foreshadowing all enhance an intriguing character study of an individual descending into emotional turmoil with superbly subtle directorial style. The scene in the bar with the barmaid when Bruce explains love -- and the final scene alone are worth the price of admission for eloquently filmed and acted moments of understated emotion.

Surprisingly good

[ndro777 · 8/10 · 13 October 2006]

I wasn't too sure when I picked up this movie. The first few minutes were actually kinda nauseating the way the picture shot. But after used to it, I found it to be more real. The story doesn't flow like normal, rather it drips on you like leaking faucet. Telling you bits of the character as it goes. The acting of the main actor Rodolphe Marconi is very promising. His eyes tells a lot more than anything else. Somehow I keep comparing him to Jake Gylenhaal, maybe just the look. Overall great effort from an all rounder producer/actor/writer. I highly recommend this study of human's emotion. When feelings are too strong to be contained. Like the character said "have you ever been lost, and you are aware that you are lost, but you can not do anything about it?"

Good Premise...

[kara-redding · 29 November 2004]

The most notable thing about this film as you begin to watch it is the way it's filmed. It strikes the viewer immediately as low budget, because the cinematography resembles that of a home movie. The story is rather hard to follow (especially with a bunch of giggly girls sitting behind you) and the acting is… eh. However, the manner with which it is presented it very interesting. Instead of showing the viewer certain specific things and telling him through dialogue what is going on, the director takes a more realistic approach and simply shows you snippets of the characters' lives.

The premise of the film, which is a French college student coming to Rome to study and subsequently falling for an Italian boy there, seems all well and good, but it becomes tedious as the Italian starts chasing after an American female student. Only the character of Bruce, I found, was actually interesting and realistic. Rodolphe Marconi, who plays him, does a good job portraying Bruce's facets of affection for the Italian boy, Matteo. The most satisfying scenes are those when the viewer sees Bruce presumably speaking to Matteo, exposing his feelings only to find that the French boy is simply pretending, practicing his speeches or fantasizing intimacy between the pair. It is these scenes that evoke a pitiful emotion from the viewer, because it is something that real people do. Unfortunately for this film, it seems that budget wouldn't allow the story of such a great premise be properly produced into a quality film.

Faulty and fragmented

[Gordon-11 · 23 September 2008]

This film is about a French student on a scholarship in Rome. He falls in love with a library intern, but his love is not reciprocated.

"Défense d'aimer" has an ultra slow pacing; there is nothing much happening even fifteen minutes into the film. It is made worse by all the seemingly artistic scenes devouring on pieces of artwork. The story is poorly developed, especially the relationship between Bruce and Matteo. Many things appear out of the blue and then is left unexplained. The last fifteen minutes is almost a joke. Why would he just find a random girl in the block to talk to? And the last scene is even more puzzling. I found it quite a torture to watch such a faulty and fragmented story.