Loving Annabelle (2006)

"Loving Annabelle" (2006), co-written and directed by Katherine Brooks, is an attractive film with attractive leads. Basically it's a love story between a student at a Catholic school and her female teacher.

The basic concept of the movie is forbidden love. In this case, the love is forbidden for two reasons--it's lesbian and it's between a student and a teacher. That's the basic plot, and everything else in the film revolves around that.

I just reviewed "Sevigne," a movie about a developing relationship between two women. That film was subtle and nuanced. In my opinion, "Loving Annabelle" is neither. It's fairly predictable from the opening scene. A young woman arrives at a Catholic boarding school under heavy escort. It's obvious that she's not happy to be there, and will defy school authority. Then we see her in class with Simone, a beautiful, intelligent woman teacher. The rest of the plot pretty well follows from that. A weak point is that Simone's boy friend, the third corner of the triangle, is obviously far below Simone's level in every respect--there's no real dramatic tension between her feelings for him and her feelings for Annabelle.

The leads are extremely attractive. (Erin Kelly as Annabelle looks like a young Jane Fonda.) Diane Gaidry as Simone looked right for the part and acted it well. Ms. Gaidry was gracious enough to come to the screening of the movie, which played at ImageOut, the Rochester Gay and Lesbian film festival

Finally, in Rochester, almost the entire audience consisted of lesbian couples. It's sad that heterosexuals in Rochester are not perceptive enough to realize that a film about a lesbian relationship can appeal to viewers of all sexual orientations.

Fmovies: I'll begin this review by saying I didn't dislike this film. It was well acted, and looked very very good for an independent film. I guess I just felt like I knew everything that was going to happen before it did. At the beginning of the movie, the scenes seemed very trite and underdeveloped; after a few lines of dialogue and a couple of cuts, we're abruptly taken away to the next part of the story. Because of this rushed feeling to the movie, I never got to know the supporting characters, who had plenty of potential for further development.

The one thing I find redeeming about this film is the tension that builds between the two leads. The filmmaker does a good job of teasing the audience time and time again, to the point where I just gave up any hope of them getting together. She successfully took the film to a point where she could take one of two routes: they end up together, or they never take that chance. The choice she makes works for the tone of the film, even if the ending is a tad abrupt.

All in all, the filmmaker definitely has talent, I just wish there was less ambiguity in the narrative and more character development.

I could use hundreds of words to praise this movie & they all would be so true but there is also another reason why Loving Annabelle is so loved. The movie is helping so many people in dealing with issues in their lives that before this movie they couldn't deal with. A great message in this movie is that you can not judge a situation unless you are in it. Also the director and cast interact with people in a way not many do and this created a Loving Annabelle community that I am so proud to be part of it. I will end with a cliché but very appropriate for this movie: If Loving Annabelle didn't exist, someone would have to invent it. (But luckily the talented Katherine Brooks provided for that)

Loving Annabelle fmovies. After having watched so many lesbian films and being utterly disappointed with the majority of them, it was a relief to sit through "Loving Annabelle." The story touches the heart and is an incredible intro for Katherine Brooks into what I hope will be a long, fruitful career as a Writer/Director for feature films. She takes a controversial subject and handles it well without compromising reality. I am grateful for her courage not to take the easy way out. It sets a standard I hope other film makers are willing to step up to.The excellent cast and direction make this a very memorable viewing experience.

Loving Annabelle is so intense that it is real. The on screen chemistry between Erin Kelly and Diane Giadry is undeniable. Every glance, every touch is heart felt and passionate. You can not help who you fall in love with and this movie is a great love story. Phenomenal and sensual! It is hard to believe that Erin has been on this project for over four years, and Diane a mere three days before shooting. When you put your heart and mind into a script you become that character, when you kiss or dance or touch with that character you are becoming them. Erin and Diane became their characters and the intensity became great chemistry and passion. I have watched this movie several times and each time in draws me in closer. Love is powerful and when it hits you, you have no control.

Its hard to watch "Loving Annabelle" and not feel its emotional and heart-wrenching qualities. Diane Gaidry and Erin Kelly are extremely convincing as "Simone" and "Annabelle". Their love is pure and extremely delicate for it holds so much more than most people care to notice. Its more than a "teacher-student love affair", or a "lesbian love affair". Annabelle and Simone feel love's agonizing pull and love's agonizing defeat with so much emotion and understanding. Erin and Diane played their parts beautifully and it is evident from watching their chemistry on screen as well as off. A job well done to both of them.