paul-smeenis Reviews

The New Girlfriend (2014)

Brilliant, beautiful exploration of the nature of attraction, friendship and love.

[10/10 · 17 May 2016]

I came to this film as a long-time lover of French cinema, a devotee of Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine's masterful storytelling (here given its deserved production values at last, after all of the rather limiting low-budget TV adaptations) and Romain Duris' incredibly versatile, sensitive acting - so all the elements were already in place; it was pretty much a foregone conclusion I would adore it, but I still wasn't prepared for the emotional head-rush.

The nature of attraction is explored fascinatingly; it goes through stages including revulsion, acceptance, friendship, attraction and love and revisits them, with an ending that blew me away and stayed with me long after the film finished, making me think deeply about the limitless nature of love and things unexpectedly turning out for the best.

The two leads were captivating and the unexpected humorous touches at some of the saddest or serious of moments were a pure joy.

Raven's Touch (2015)

A different film to the one described here

[7/10 · 8 November 2015]

It's nothing to do with a boy and facebook; it's a lesbian love story... how did that description get applied and stick? It's mainly set outdoors and the internet, let alone Facebook, doesn't feature.

Raven, a wild woman of the woods has encounter with family camping and is hostile at first, but a friendship develops and we find out she is grieving the loss of her niece. She teaches the family a few basic survival skills and their respect for her grows. We're introduced to Joe, a caring older guy who understands Raven and they make sweet country music, living quietly in the woods. Kate, the mother of the children Maya and Jack meets up with Raven at her cabin and they embrace and kiss. No words are spoken. The mysterious Angela watches the family from afar and gets Maya and Jack into her car, to take them into town but an argument ensues and the children jump out at Highway 22 and run off into the woods. Angela finds Kate and tells her what happened. Meanwhile, Maya stumbles and hurts herself. Kate runs to Raven's cabin and tells her Maya and Jack are lost in the woods. Raven knows the woods like the back of her hand and can work out the most likely route Maya and Jack will have taken. Will she save them? Well acted, thoughtful film.