Youll Get Over It DVD with Julien Baumgartner, Julia Maraval, Jï¿½rï¿½mie Elkaï¿½m (Unrated) +Movie Reviews

Everyone Adapts In His Or Her Own Way

interested_observer | San Francisco, CA USA | 10/27/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

""You'll Get Over It" is a fine French made-for-TV movie showing how coming out affects an individual and those closest to him. Vincent Molina (played by Julien Baumgartner) is the 17-year old anchor of the school swimming relay team, is about to graduate, and is a closeted gay. He has a long-time, virgin girlfriend, Noemie (played by Julia Maraval), and a non-virgin 'buddy', Bruno (played by Nils Ohlund). This works out until Vincent hooks up with a new student, Benjamin (played by Jeremie Elkaim of "Come Undone"). People know Benjamin is gay and make the link to Vincent, who has had a compartmented life. The movie shows how Vincent and those closest to him deal with their emotions as the situation plays out.

Vincent's initial withdrawal and distrustfulness are very realistically shown. The uncertainty and bargaining of his friends and family come through well. The acting is good thoughout.

There is considerable skin shown, from all of Vincent to Noemie to the swimmers and locker-room denizens.

While the movie centers on Vincent and his long-time network, I would have liked a stronger sense of how Bruno fit into Vincent's worldview and on why Benjamin and Vincent make a good fit. Jeremie Elkaim does not get much time on screen, despite his top billing and a good performance. The bonus features are just a picture gallery and some trailers.

I have noticed that recent French movies on a gay theme have been substantially better than their American counterparts. "You'll Get over It", "Close to Leo", "The Man I Love", "Confusion of Genders", "My Life on Ice", "Come Undone", and other movies all seem to have more depth of characterization and more willingness to reveal emotions, sexuality, and the human body than, say, "A Home at the End of the World".

You'll enjoy watching "You'll Get Over It".

"

Realistic coming-out drama

Bob Lind | Phoenix, AZ United States | 11/01/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In 2002's "À cause d'un garçon" ("You'll Get Over It"), 17 year old Vincent (Julien Baumgartner) deals with the aftermath of being "outed" at his high school, following an aborted tryst with Benjamin (Jérémie "Come Undone" Elkaïm), the new guy in town. The graffiti painted near his locker, the taunting from his classmates, the stunned reaction from his parents, even the open hostility from his brother are easier to deal with than being ostracized by the others on the swim team, possibly jeopardizing his getting a college scholarship. Only one team member remains on his side, while even a teacher believed by students to be gay refuses to help him deal with the reactions. Vincent explores the local gay scene, and is repulsed by the "meat market" atmosphere. His former girlfriend, Noémie, tries to be supportive, but eventually decides that she needs to put her own needs first. In time, his parents rally to let Vincent know he is loved "as is," and enlist the help of his swim coach to overcome the problems with the team.

A beautifully photographed and nuanced film made for French TV, depicting a coming out experience that teens can relate to, handled in a realistic and balanced way. Rated R, with male and female frontal nudity and similated sex. In French with English subtitles. No DVD extras besides the usual trailers and scene selection utility."

Generally appealing coming-of-age film

Roland E. Zwick | Valencia, Ca USA | 05/01/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"***1/2

A sensitive film about both "coming out" and "coming of age," "You'll Get Over It" tells of a 17-year-old French boy's efforts to deal with his homosexuality. A championship swimmer, Vincent is a popular, well-liked kid at school and the apple of his parents' eyes at home. The problem is that Vincent is living a lie, keeping his sexuality a secret from his family, his two best friends, and the world at large. When Vincent is seen "consorting" with a suspected gay student, all hell breaks loose and Vincent is forced to deal with not only the reactions of those around him but the roiling emotions taking place deep within himself about what exactly it means to be gay.

Although the film feels a little too pat, contrived and melodramatic at times - kind of like an After School Special with subtitles and occasional flashes of nudity - "You'll Get Over It" wins us over with the delicacy, insight and compassion it brings to its subject. It shows us the myriad and sometimes surprising reactions from the people in Vincent's life - his parents, his "girlfriend," his best friend, his team mates, his swim coach and his teachers. The amount of outright persecution Vincent has to endure from his fellow students shows that even France - so often thought of as being in the forefront of all things sexual - has a long way to go in accepting gays. The movie also deals with Vincent's own conflicting feelings about being gay, as he contemplates a future filled with what he imagines to be loneliness and unhappiness. Like many gay people, Vincent lives in as much of a state of denial at times as the people around him.

The performances are excellent, particularly those by Julien Baumgartner as Vincent and Julia Maravel as Noemie, the girl who loves him and wants to help him, but who finds it hard to let go of him even after she discovers the truth. Baumgartner has a very expressive face that allows us to understand and identify with the external and internal struggles taking place in his character's life.

For the most part, "You'll Get Over It" has a nice, naturalistic feel to it. Director Fabrice Cazeneuve keeps his camera largely handheld and close to the actors, which heightens the sense of realism and intimacy this type of story needs to be effective. Unfortunately, the plot mechanics do intrude a bit from time to time, and the ending, while touching, does feel a little too conveniently upbeat to be entirely convincing. Still, "You'll Get Over It" serves as a valuable plea for understanding and acceptance, and that is a salutary goal for any film.

"

You'll be getting more

Cookie Crook | arlington, va | 06/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You'll Get Over It, directed by Fabrice Cazeneuve, details the life of a swimming champ Vincent (Julien Baumgartner) and his circle of friends Noemae (Julia Maraval) and Ste'phane. Everything in life is going smoothly for Vincent with loving parent, good grades and wonderful friends until Benjamin (Jeremie Elkaim) fumbles out the secret that Vincent is gay. What transpires is the hostility Vincent feels from his swim mates, ex-girlfriend and the loss of control over his life.

The acting in this movie is terrific, Julien, Julia and the actor that plays Ste'phane work well together and give convincing and genuine performances of teenagers in a time of change and confusion. The script is well written and delves into the interfaces between Vincent and his friends, school mates, and family; a must for a movie of this caliber. This French film focuses on emotional bonds, character development, and self image/recognition, but doesn't slide into the usual sex, drugs and lunacy that, I hate to say, seems to be so prevalent in American gay movies. You'll Get Over It is a movie that you will want to add to your movie collect and one that you will walk away from just feeling great."

"Maybe it's just a phase...he'll get over it"

M. J Leonard | Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA United States | 02/27/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You'll Get Over It is a clever film that raises some interesting issues, not just about the coming out process, but also about the kind of schoolyard bullying that many young gay men have had to face in their lives. Full of earnestness and emotional integrity, You'll Get Over It focuses on high school champion swimming star Vincent (a terrific Julien Baumgartner), and his journey towards self-discovery.

Vincent is one of the most popular boys at school, he's good academically, and he's also the star of the school swim team. He likes to hang out with his two best friends, Stéphane (Francois Comar) and Noémie (Julia Maraval). Noemie has had a secret crush on Vincent, but Vincent has discovered that he's gay. He's confused and unsure, and worries about coming out to his loving parents, and the loyal Noémie.

Vincent has pretty well decided that he likes boys - he has Bruno, a gay lover that he sneaks across town to see. But when a new student, Benjamin (Jérémie Elkaïm), arrives at school, Vincent becomes instantly attracted to him and tries to share a first kiss. All the lies and secrecy start to get a bit much for Vincent and things are made much worse when Benjamin starts a nasty rumour-mill by inadvertently outing him. With his teammates shunning him, Vincent sinks into deep depression, melancholy, and self-pity.

How Vincent copes with this outing, both at home and at school is the central element of this story. Noémie is of course devastated, but she still consoles and loves him regardless. His parents, confused and naïve, worry about Vincent's bullying and struggle to help him cope with being ostracized. It doesn't help that he has a jealously competitive older brother, who loves to box and is starved for attention. Seeking advice from his swimming coach and also taking advice from his gay literature teacher, Vincent tries to pull together and transcend the stereotypes that his friends, family, and colleagues have associated with being gay.

While watching this movie I was shocked at the prejudice and bigotry that still exists with kids around this age. I would have thought that teenagers, especially in France where the film is set, would be more to tolerant and broadminded. Whatever the case, things work out happily (and perhaps somewhat unrealistically) for Vincent. Stéphane, Noemie, and his parents are all fine and super cool after they get over the initial shock of finding out.

The film belongs to Julien Baumgartner. His striking good looks positively show his range of emotion and allow the audience into his heart. In one scene, he goes to the city to explore the gay scene, but comes home disgusted at its tacky cheapness. There's an innocence, and incorruptibility to Vincent's soul that allows him to eventually find love in all the right places. Mike Leonard February 05.

"

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