Search - A Real Young Girl on DVD

"Disgust makes me lucid."

Dymon Enlow | 09/03/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Entertaining (in an artsy, boring, French kind of way), but ultimately forgettable story of a sexually curious 14 year-old girl who is home from school for a month. Her parents live way back in the country side. So bored with nothing to do she lays around half-naked and fantasizes about sex.

Wait!!! Don't get too excited just yet. Yea, that might sound like a set up for the hottest movie ever made, but unfortunately this girl's fantasies suck and not in a good way but in a mid-70's, unshaved, artistic kind of way. Tied up spread eagle on the beach some sickly chain smoking dude rubs earthworms on her private parts (yuck), her overweight father watches television with his wang hanging out (barf), the girl rams bird feathers up her bum and crawls around on all fours (huh?), hey, I feel like cramming a spoon in my [...] (what?). I don't get it. I just don't understand the meaning/symbolism of somebody puking all over herself then not even cleaning it up, but writing in her diary instead.

If you're looking for something artistic and hot then skip this dog and check out BELLE DE JOUR or maybe some Radley Metzger flicks.
"

A transition into sexuality

R. Maynard | Epsom, New Hampshire United States | 03/30/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"All of us have gone though this phase on our journey from childhood to adulthood and few will forget it. It is mysterious, puzzling, dazzling, intimidating, wondrous, discomforting, frightening, joyous, rebellious, moody and frustrating. Its feelings -- often denied -- devolve deeply on the sensual awakening of our intimate body parts, but most film producer's skirt this issue; they don't want to show it. Instead, they depict a series of mindless scenes that merely imply a connection between the emotional and physical being.
What's refreshing in this film, is that the director, Catherine Breillat, had the courage to show the anatomical elements involved in this living paradigm. The story jumps around a bit with a few inane scenes such as the details of slaughtering a chicken for dinner (a common occurrence on farms). However, the main character, Alice (played by Charlotte Alexandra) hues to the story line and is ultimately relieved to find that she too has made the awesome leap into an attractive adult, one who is capable of bringing about a successful sexual experience.
My only criticism of the film is the very poor quality of the DVD imaging."

Not for everyone (unfortunately)!

old_dog_videographer | Mill Valley, CA USA | 03/08/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"...There are obvious places along the story that are rough (script, acting, and cinematography) but again, it is Breillat's first film and it is 100% French. I didn't find the sexuality quite as shocking ...I found it very honestly courageous. There is actually very little nudity in the film and, other than one very openly sexual scene and a couple of exposed penis scenes, there's no more nudity than would be normal for any European film of that period. If you have seen either of Breillat's most recent films (Romance & Fat Girl) and were intrigued, then this film is worth viewing (or collecting) as the first step in the development of Breillat as a film maker..."

Girl in Heat and Crazy with Desire

Drake-by-the-Lake | State of Euphoria | 09/05/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very simple film about a girl in heat, crazy with desire and cloistered away in a small 1950s French village that just doesn't understand. Three guesses as to what she really needs, and the first two don't count. Erotic fantasies and solo-play. This one has some truly hot scenes, and also warm, or just simmering, and some that are weird products of adolescent confusion. You will get what you want with this film, even if the girl doesn't."