Ma Vie en Rose (1997)

Not just a 'weepie' but a heaving-shoulder sobfest. I watched this at The Swiss House near Leicester Square, which is quite a small intimate cinema. I was there on my own, admittedly being a sad git and the house was packed; a fair proportion of whom were gay couples. I go to the cinema a helluva lot and on the Audience Reaction Richter scale this film was a force ten with warnings. It wasn't just the whole gender identity thing which was palpable and heart-wrenching but the powerful evocations of all childhood miseries that choked me up... Like the first day at my new school realising I was the only person wearing a homemade uniform (sorry mum but this has scarred me for life). At the Swiss House, the audience have to take a lift down to the exit and strangers were literally hugging each other because we all knew we had been crying our bloody eyes out unashamedly. I completely ruined my favourite scarf blowing my nose and wiping my mascara off my sodden face. This film just touches a raw emotional inner place so bloody beautifully..Formidable!!

Fmovies: I am astonished about some reactions

I am amazed to read things like this, "To me, this was not a film about a "disturbed" child, but about parents. The parents made, apparently, no effort to explain the biological difference between boys and girls. Second, nobody enlightened the child on the difference between your secret, internal sensitivities and those that one displays publicly.", have you really not understood this movie or was it me?

Of course this movie is not about a disturbed child! Maybe this movie is about the fact that all people, from the moment they are born, are conditioned to be like this and like that, and especially not to be themselves. Boys have to play with cars and guns, and girls with barby puppets, and most definitely not the other way around, otherwise you should take your kid to a therapist. Boys have to wear trousers and girls skirts or frogs, just check school uniforms, there are still quite some schools where girls may not wear trousers except for the really cold winter months. A child can not explore the world in a natural way, whenever it yells to test the capacity of its lungs, and any adult might dislike that, it is silenced, with other words whenever they are themselves, they are silenced. We are all conditioned like rats in a skinner box and we are no more and no less than rats in a skinner box until we can say f**k you to that society, those politicians, law enforcers, teachers, parents, employers, media, so called friends that don't accept us like we are, etc that gratefully fulfill the role of skinner. Maybe the biological difference between the two sexes is much less clear than most of us think and are people in the first place humans rather than men and women, and maybe hormonal and genetical, there are many stages between "absolute woman" and "absolute man".

I also don't think that the film wants to implement that the boy could have these feelings as a secret, but nobody else may know that. With other words you are saying the same like all the other skinners, whatever you think, try not to give in to it, and keep acting like a robot, wearing your mask because your real self is disgusting and abnormal, and something to be ashamed of. For myself, i am a guy, but i like to wear long skirts, noting to do with gender (there is fundamentally nothing female about a skirt) because the are comfortable and give your legs much more freedom than trousers, but i never wear them when I'm at my hometown, because i just don't feel like being stared at by the local baker, neighbors, etc. I just can't cope with being the weirdo again, and i am like everybody else in this society threatened with being laughed at, being discredited,... if i am myself.

I also read:"Great! Great! Great! I've told everyone I know to see this one! Really a fun, entertaining, charming, sweet film. It will take you emotionally all over the place. But believe me, it is really a great emotional ride. I love to see films like this that show all aspects of life! Enjoy this one with several friends!"

I think this film was everything except charming, entertaining, sweet, fun... I think this film tries to confront people with the DISGUSTING society to which they all contribute, it is a good movie, but it has nothing to do with sweetness and charm and the like. Now sorry for the enraged start that i took, of course everyone understands a movie in their way, and i don't want to sound patronizing, but i was shocked by some r

I was once a "child" - full of awe, wonderment, and an overall appreciation of...just - being. Yes, just being!

We were all there at one point in our lives - whether you can, or choose too, remember at all.

That childhood was full of light. That childhood was full of naivete. That childhood was full of love.That childhood was full of innocence.

One day I realized that I was no longer a child. I don't know exactly how - nor when. The "light bulb" just turned on. I became a young adult. I knew "certain" things and realized "other" things. That's the day I lost "that childhood". I knew what other people expected of me.

"That childhood" is what we all long to return to. "That childhood" is the essence of pure love without conditions - and no expectations". That childhood" is what this movie is all about.

As an "unadulterated being" we see ourselves as the center of the universe. It is "our" world which all about us takes part in. "We" are the reason our parents go to work. "We" are the reason a billboard is placed in a certain spot. "We" are the reason for everything. "We" are neither plotters nor planners. "We" are not in it for ourselves - after all - the world is ALL about ourselves - innocently and faithfully we just know this.

Growing up is a slap in the face of "that childhood". There comes a time when all of society plops it's weight on the unconditional love we feel. There comes a time when all of society says to us "Wake up - this world is not yours".

I cried as I watched the real world crashing down on Ludovic.

This is not so much a story about gender identity as it is a story about the loss of "that childhood" innocence.

ROSTOV RATING:

*****Highly Recommended***** *****All Audiences - Ignore Rating***** *****Bring Tissues***** *****Buy/Rent?---->BUY*****

Ma Vie en Rose fmovies. Wow! I just finished watching this movie today, a few hours ago and was really really surprised by it. Though somewhat weird at times, the powerful performances, thoughtful subject matter, and clever writing just amazed me. Prior to today, I had never heard of the film, which isn't really a big surprise I guess, foreign films in general don't do particularly well in North America on a whole. Yes its sad, but also true.

"My Life In Pink" definately ranks HIGH on the list of spectacular international films for me. I only wish I heard about it sooner but like every other thick headed westerner I was brainwashed into paying to see sub-par movies like "Men In Black", "Lost World: Jurassic Park", "Con Air", and "Face Off" in 1997 instead of this. Those movies weren't horrendous but they didn't have nearly as much depth and meaning as "My Life In Pink".

If you can find the video or DVD or even VCD then pick it up and watch it. Many will not like it at all because they may feel its weird or too taboo for them. But for those of you who are more open minded and are in search of a great piece of film making then this is for you. I felt nothing but sorrow and compassion for young Ludovic all throughout the film. His pain and sorrows, his sadness and loneliness, it brought some tears to my eyes seeing how horrendous he was treated. Everybody looked upon him like a monster. That him wanting to be a girl was outrageous and wrong. Yet again, an accurate interpretation of society. Nowadays your not allowed to be anything that society deems unacceptable. Frankly it sickens me. Whether your gay, straight, bisexual, lesbian, or transgender its your decision and nobody has any right to tell you other wise.

"My Life In Pink" accurately portrays the struggles that hundreds of youth face today. Youth that are struggling to discover their identities, having to deal with family and friends that tease and taunt them for being "different".

I really don't want to say much about the movie because you should experience it without knowing much to get the whole impact of its message. See this movie. Its a prime example of AMAZING French cinema.

A MUST SEE!!!! 4.5 OUT OF 5!!!

This is a beautiful movie that will touch your heart. A movie about accepting those we love for who they are, and not what we wish they were. It's a very real look at families and how they interact. About how hard it is for a parent to admit, either to themselves or others, that their child may be "different", even when they truly love that child. The child in this movie will steal your heart.

Why is this wonderful family movie rated "R"? Why, on cable, is this heart-warming gem preceded by warnings of "violence" and "adult content"? Ludicrous! Although told in an almost fable-like manner, "Ma vie en rose" is an all-too-rare depiction of believably real parents and children dealing with life's pressures together. Beautifully written, directed and acted, any child would benefit from watching this utterly delightful and thought-provoking film with their parents and discussing the struggles of little Ludovic and his family. Don't miss the opportunity.