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Free Love and Communal Idealism

Amos Lassen | Little Rock, Arkansas | 07/10/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Born in 68"

Free Love and Communal Idealism

Amos Lassen

I remember 1968 and the hippie movement well. It was one thing in America but something else in France. In Paris, a group of young student revolutionaries led by Catherine and Yves start a commune devoted to free love, nudism and anarchy and the film looks at the characters on their journey to enlightenment, rebellion and change. We get a look into those that revolted against what was mainstream society and we see their need for freedom and personal accomplishment which forces them to take action. The end of Communism and the AIDS crisis bring to the fore the militant legacy of the generation that came before.
Free love and communal idealism were the rage. Yves and Herve share the love of the beautiful Catherine at a commune not far from Paris. However as the years change to the 70s, numbers shrink at the commune and by the time the 80's hit, Catherine is middle-aged and her lovers are gone. She is now a single mother with a rebellious daughter and a very handsome gay son named Boris who becomes victim to HIV and becomes a political revolutionary.
This is quite an ambitious film as it spans four decades of both political and erotic upheavals. It is hard to understand the direction of the film but this is not a major fault as there is so much to see here. It is interesting look at when we dared to challenge and we see the results of when we do not. I found this to be an interesting look at a time when we really cared.
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