Search - The Man I Love on DVD

A Love Story in the Impeccable French Style

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 12/06/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Perhaps the French do indeed have the market on love stories. THE MAN I LOVE is the improbable tale of a young gay man (Martin) living with AIDS who falls in love with an apparently straight diver and swim coach (Lucas) who comes to work at the Centre Nautique where Martin is the pool boy/janitor. Martin is so comfortable and carefree with his sexuality that he immediately pledges his attraction to the somewhat confused Lucas. Martin follows Lucas home where he lives with an especially lovely young Lise who immediately is infatuated with Martin's ability to use sign language (Lise teaches in a school for the hearing impaired) and encourages the mortified Lucas to include Martin in their social life. Things progress, Martin realizes he is coming to the end of his struggle with AIDS, invites his mother to meet Lucas, and gradually Lucas embraces his bisexuality and falls in love with Martin. All of this story is played (by an exceptional cast) as a simple tale of love and it is because of this honesty that the film succeeds. There is a tendency to push the Act Up movement - Martin's extended family engage in a laying in strike against the hospital for the French government's lack of AIDS research and treatment venues - but even this bit of grandstanding shows passion and compassion in a very real manner. The ending of the film, while edging a bit towards the saccharine, manages to quickly fall back in step and leaves the viewer with a sense of the power of love....as only the French can do! The setting in Marseilles is beautiful, the score is charming, and the mood is warm for a tough subject."

A Truly Moving Love Story

david_jon | Glen Cove, NY USA | 11/22/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Few gay themed love stories are as touching and moving as this one between Martin, a gay man, and Lucas, a seemingly straight man whom he has fallen in love with.Maybe it is the fact that Martin is living with AIDS and realizes that time is precious, or just that he goes after what he wants, but he wastes no filling Lucas in on the way he feels, a feeling which at first Lucas doesn't seem to share.But the two become friends, and as they do we begin to realize, as does Lucas, that something more is developing, something he never thought possible...or did he? Although he has a girlfriend, Lucas wonders, as does the viewer, if there isn't something missing. Much of the pleasure of this film is in the small touches as the story unfolds, as we see Lucas come to the realization that this new friendship is developing into something more meaningful. From here the movie unfolds to it's very moving and satisfying conclusion.You may find yourself wanting to watch this movie more than once, especially when you see how it ends. Repeated viewings only seem to make the story more meaningful.This movie is a story of coming out, of being true to yourself, and the tremendous power of love."

A straight girl's favorite French movie...

natatocious | E. Lansing, MI United States | 11/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A genuinely moving story, The Man I Love (original title: L'Homme que J'aime) centers on the unlikely but potent romance between a straight diver and a gay pool attendant.
The film, in typical French fashion, invites the viewer to look outside convention and towards the deepest potency of true compassion by focusing on more familiar themes like coming out and AIDS. The film quickly draws you into the secret world created by the two lovers as they confront mainstream social expectations as well as grief, doubt, pain, and their personal demons. In the best possible way, the characters establish themselves as men courageous enough to love unselfishly and care for each other. Truly a subtle and striking film!"

BRAVO! Gay cinema at its best

R. Force | Colorado Springs, CO | 01/30/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The depiction on the cover of this dvd/video is somewhat misleading as it tends to lead one to believe that this a superficial "softporn and eye candy" type movie. The very opposite is true. While the actors in this film are definitely easy on the eyes they have have a depth of character and emotion that few american gay film characters achieve. I found myself feeling sorrow, attraction, and admiration, all at the same time for the lead character of Martin throughout the movie. The plot is sad and beautiful at the same time with just the right amount of emotion and not too much preachiness given the fact that it is about AIDS and the impending death of one of the characters.
This is a must see if you get the chance."