Search - The Gymnast on DVD

Good film - needs more sex though ...

K. E. Fox | Austin, Texas | 08/13/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"A married woman in her mid 30's becomes bored with her daily routine as a massage therapist and impulsively signs up for trapeze artist class. The woman quickly finds out that she's pretty very good at performing all the incredibly difficult gyrations she has to perform on those ropes far above the floor because she was once a teenage professional gymnast.

The main text of this film is about a woman rediscovering her passion for life after tolerating a dull and passionless existence with her husband who doesn't know or appreciate her. The secondary part of this film is about the woman falling for her female trapeze artist partner, who is a lesbian. I thought this was a charming little film that needed more work on the romance/lovemaking part (i.e. the lesbian sex part was very tame and very brief). I also wanted to see more romance (not sex, ROMANCE and PASSION!) between the two women. Again, this film is more about the 'gymnast' reclaiming her soul after admitting that her marriage has become dull and meaningless rather than a romantic lesbian film. As an addendum, I spoke to the actress who starred in this film after I saw it at the Cleveland International Film Festival in early 2007, and told her that the movie needed more sex and passion, and she said that a lot of people had told her that She also told me she's making another `lesbian' film and there will be more lovemaking in it.
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Girls in Love

Amos Lassen | Little Rock, Arkansas | 09/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Gymnast"

Girls in Love

Amos Lassen

Wolfe Video announces the release of the movie that has wowed festivals and gained a place in the hearts of many, "The Gymnast". Challenging ideas of identity and ability, "The Gymnast" is an exquisite film dealing with hope and taking steps to be oneself.
Jane Hawkins (Dreya Weber) is a gymnast and an impressive one who is at the top rung of her career when an injury ends her career. She channels her energy, her strength and her passion into a job she finds tedious and boring as a massage therapist. Living in a loveless marriage, it appears that all adventure is gone from her life when she has a chance meeting that sets her life in a new direction. She meets Serena (Addie Yungmee) who performs in an aerial act and is both beautiful and extremely mysterious. Each of the women is taken in by the other but distractions occur. Jane bemoans that she has no children and Serena lives as a lesbian who is still closeted and is plagued by stereotypes as an adopted Korean daughter of Jewish parents. The two prepare for an audition for a Las Vegas show, the attraction between the two women becomes even stronger and the result is a look at identity and ability.
This is a must-see film. The gymnastics are fantastic and the acting is superb. What these two women do on the screen is beyond imagination, not just physically but emotionally as well.
"The Gymnast" looks at love, loss, personal struggle and transformation and it honors both women and beauty. Jane is "everywoman". She as had a wonderful life with a great deal in her favor yet she is unhappy. She has strength and intelligence but an accident stops her and she lives a life of misery. To fill her life, she seeks challenges and as she does so, we feel her despair and hopelessness but we also admire the power of her convictions. She stuns with her performance and we cheer for her as she discovers love and a new path after she meets and teams up with Serena. Jane's broken personality shows her honesty
and beauty.
Director Ned Far captures the relationship between the two women in a beautiful and realistic way and the movie engages the viewer in a most profound way.
Everything about "The Gymnast" is first class--the acting, the directing, the cinema photography, the music. The treatment of "coming to terms" with sexuality as well as aging, relationships, self-discovery and courage are all explicated on a high level and relate to issues that so many of us face. It isn't just a good story; it is a visual feast with absolutely gorgeous aerial performances. Photographing happiness is no easy task and coming to terms with reality is even more difficult. This movie does both--stylishly and with a great deal of grace.
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A Delightful Love Story

A. Ventura | Savannah, GA | 08/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw this movie and I must say, it is a delightful love story. The tale of finding your sexuality at any age helps many people open their eyes with the help of The Gymnast's colorful cast and a superb script. The movie is brilliantly directed and is very realisic to modern day love stories and helps the viewers understand what happens when a person realizes they might not be staright after all and how it begins to affect those around them. This movie is a great treat for both gays and straights and is highly recommended.

"

Magnificent story

Hilary Hayes | Los Angeles, CA United States | 09/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a beautiful love story!!! - with great tenderness, humor and amazing visual performances. I loved every second. Dreya Weber is a very talented actress and aerialist, what a wonderful character to play - she did it flawlessly!!!! Don't forget to watch the rolling credits - a cute scene plays through it - my favorite part!!!!"