Search - Johan on DVD

Surreal and Erotic

Amos Lassen | Little Rock, Arkansas | 08/07/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

""JOHAN"

Surreal and Erotic


Amos Lassen


"Johan' was originally made in 1976 and is both surreal and erotic. It was only briefly seen due to its overt gay activity but times are different now and we must be grateful to WaterBearer films for allowing us to finally be able to see it. Basically it is about a novice filmmaker searching for an actor to portray his seductive and enigmatic jailed lover in this surreal and sexually explicit film from the `70s.
This bizarre meta-story from French filmmaker Philippe Valois, is very difficult to follow and one never quite knows who's who or what's what. Even if you lose the narrative thread, there's plenty of lush footage of beautiful men in various states of undress doing everything from dancing to playing cards to making sweet, humpy love to each other. Set in Paris, the plot concerns a filmmaker trying to make a movie about his erstwhile lover, Johan, who is "the kind of man you see once and never forget." However, none of the actors can quite get it right. The filmmaker can't even manage to cast himself, because two other men portray him during the course of the film. As unhinged as the `70s gay scene itself, "Johan" is a dizzying portrait of gay youth in all its enthralling and often narcissistic glory. We see gay cruising in public gardens, strange encounters with doting mothers, wild dance performances in and out of drag and peeks into that strange and wonderful relationship gay men have with straight women. All this plus forehead tattoos and bell-bottoms make Johan a kitchen-sink affair that is sure to tease, titillate and astound the viewer. This is one you do not want to miss.
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WATCH THE EXTRAS FIRST!

RJAj | New England | 10/29/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Unless you are already familiar with this film's history and backstory, I would suggest you watch the extra featurette "Secrets De Tournage" included on the disc before watching the actual film. Watching the film first without this information will be a bit confusing if you do not already know the history between the director and the film's "missing" actor, Johan.
A great period piece that was way ahead of its time. In FRENCH with English Subtitles, but that does not get in the way of enjoying this retro cinematic experience. Explicit in spots but done so more to show DESIRE rather than just a sex act."

Johan

bigboyone | johnson city , tn | 10/28/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"an excellent movie or documentary ?? not sure. the extras are just
about better than the movie . this was more of a search for someone to
play johan, than a record of his love for johan.
as always, the french really know how to make a movie"

This is not an easy film to review

James Marshall | Lakeville,, Connecticut USA | 09/18/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I really enjoyed this film but part of the reason is that I was in Paris about the time that this film was set. I was therefore able to empathize with the weird clothes that the actors wore, the ancient cars, etc. I liked the way that the film jumped around from scene to scene with minimal links. So like life. I also liked the way that male sex was displayed without any sort of embarrassment or censorship. So unlike a US film. I am always amazed that US films will show the grossest and most horrific violence but once one gets to sex then it is censorship time. I am not a great fan of the French but some things they get just right."