Lilies

Rating:
Summary: Riveting.
Review: Lilies has to be the best gay film overall I've seen and it leaves me struggling for words to adequately express my appreciation other than to urge others to see it for themselves. I had read many positive reviews before ordering the DVD, but still I was not prepared for how good this movie is; the film could not possibly have won all the awards it deserves.

Simply put, Lilies is captivating from the opening scene

The cast is excellent, particularly the two leads, Jason Cadieux as the young Simon and Danny Gilmore as Vallier, but there isn't a weak character in the film. Matthew Ferguson turns in a powerful performance as the young Bilodeau and Brent Carver is magnificent as the Countess in delicious supporting roles.

The transitions from present day to flashback and back again transpire so beguilingly you find it impossible to take your eyes off the screen. The soundtrack is exceptional, to say the very least. This is good filmmaking, regardless of the subject matter.

Lillies is not my sentimental favorite gay film, however; in fact, it's a bit of a downer. The love story within the story is beautiful, as well as being beautifully told and acted. Most focus on the extraordinarily handsome Cadieux as the young Simon, but the real heart of the story is Vallier, without whom Simon is just another pretty boy, as he comes to realize. The character of Vallier is nailed, absolutely, by Gilmore, who is fetching in his own right. His confrontation of Simon in the bathtub scene at the end is as powerful a scene as any in gay cinema. The intensity of passion and nuances of emotion Gilmore brings to this scene, as well as his entire role, are riveting.

But the confrontation between the older Simon and Bilodeau is less uplifting. I am not a Catholic, so I am not being defensive, but I found this twist of the story a bit too easy, a bit too much of a cliche, and I did not feel the older Simon's need for revenge nearly as strongly as I felt the passion of the young Vallier.

These objections having been stated however, if John Greyson (or anybody for that matter) has ever made a better gay film, I would like to know about it.

Rating:
Summary: Tender and emotional; a surprising work of art!
Review: "Lilies" is actually two stories going on at the same time. One is the story of a prison convict who asks for a priest to hear his confession, only to bewilder the priest with events from their shared past. The other story is one of love and passion, of betrayal and mistrust, of devotion and connection; the list goes on. The visual integrity is a vision beyond that of any love story I've seen to date, making this a very convincing and masterful production.

The film begins with an elderly Bishop making his way to a prison to hear the confession of an inmate. Once in the prison church, it strikes him as odd that a private confession have so many witnesses in the chapel, but once he makes his way to the confession box, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary religious procedure. The convict, Simon, has a plan of revenge for the Bishop, and the chapel is transformed into a stage, the prisoners its actors.

The story is that of Simon's life before prison, from his teenage years to the events that brought him to confinement. Simon is a sexually confused adolescent with whom the waifish Vallier is madly in love. Vallier is thin, pale and very emotional, and becomes severely depressed once Simon decides he must start "liking girls." He goes along to the charms of a French countess, who desperately holds onto him to fulfill her fantasy of love.

But a forced love never lasts, and Simon soon learns this. His willingness to satisfy his father's expectations are a burden to him, as is young Bilodeau, who regards his behavior with Vallier as sick. Simon soon gives in to his heart, realizing that he loves no other than Vallier. So how does the Bishop tie into the story? This I will not reveal. It is easy to guess what part he plays in the overall scheme of things.

But this predictable story twist makes the movie's love story no less affecting. This is a story of a love that could never be torn apart, a love that knew no bounds, one that met its match and won. And on the emotional side, it's quite touching to see scenes involving the two lovers handled in a less-explicit manner than most other films.

The movie makes convincing transitions from the past to the present, and even some crosses between the two. The past is brought to life by the actors of the prison, and certain scenes are staged like a play in the chapel while others are seen in Simon's mind's eye. Director John Greyson brings visual flare to the film, though some will find it difficult to make the transition. But if you're on Greyson's wavelength, then the film takes on a sumptuous and tasteful appeal.

And the cast is a work of art in its own. Young Simon is played by Jason Cadieux, who shares an electric chemistry with Danny Gilmore, playing Vallier. The two are believable as lovers, and equally as moving when they are separated from one another. Older Simon, played by Aubert Pallascio, is hardened by silent rage over his lost love, while the Bishop, played by Marcel Sabourin, is convincing in his fear over the situation. And Matthew Ferguson makes Bilodeau such an annoyance that we know he will come into play later into the film.

"Lilies" is a visually sumptuous treat that many will dismiss, but others will love. There is fire within the romance of Simon and Vallier, one that cannot be matched by many other romances in mainstream films. The present day story is a nice outlet for the memories of a man haunted by his first and only love, and the silent hatred for his enemy.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding, ground breaking and fresh
Review: This was an exceptional film with a fresh and enjoyable concept. The story was wonderful and dramatic. It was strange but that's part of the charm of this film. The other reviews gave you the basic concept of the story line, so all I can add is that it is an excellant addition to my collection and will be one of my more unusual selections. I was unsure when I ordered it however I'm very happy I did. This is a very good investment. Buy it!

Rating:
Summary: A great love story
Review: An evocative, beautifully shot, and well acted love story. The movie opens in a prison, where a bishop has been invited to hear a convict's confession. Once on prison grounds, the bishop is confronted by that same convict, Simon, for whom he has lusted unrequittedly when they were childhood friends. What follows is the retelling of a tragic love triangle and the devastating events which led up to the imprisonment of Simon, the death of Vallier, his lover, and the bishop culpable role in them.

Unlike many other movies with a gay theme, this one is very well acted. Young Simon, played by Jason Cadieux, has dark hair, dark eyes, and is drop dead gorgeous. It is easy to see why he is the object of every man's lust. But the one who really caught my attention was Vallier, played by Danny Gilmore. Though pale and a little thin, he is ethereally beautiful. What's more, Gilmore and Cadieux has such an erotically charged chemistry that is not often seen in any cinema. Although not as sexually explicit as some others, the bathtub scene is as sensual as any I've seen.

This is a wonderful movie, one of my favorites. The only down side is that it has such a sad story line.

Rating:
Summary: Buy this! Now!!
Review: A beautiful film, with a beautiful cast....A tale of young (gay) love, treachery, and vengeance...One of my all-time favorite films....A must-see film, must-own esp. if you love gay cinema...

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding and poetic
Review: This movie is perhaps the most beautiful and intricate movieI have ever seen. Not only are the shots beautiful, the acting superb, and the story enthralling, the parallels between the prison threatre scences and the flashback scenes are incedible. The fact that the cast is all male and played entirely by the prison inmates, even in the the flashabck scenes, makes the story even more unique and amazing. There is not a single weak performance in this movie. One of my favorite movies and a must see !!!!

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful filmmaking
Review: Watching Lilies is like strolling through a museum never sure about what you will see next. This complex little film challenges you visually and emotionally and comes up a winner. I dare you to not be caught up in the beauty of this film or the romance of the story.

Rating:
Summary: A well-acted, romantic yet tragic film
Review: This movie is a "play within a film" that juxtaposes two time periods, often combining the two. The film begins in Quebec in 1952, where a Bishop has been summoned to a prison to hear an inmate's confession. The chapel is filled with other inmates, and the Bishop goes to the Confessional. While there, the rest of the inmates, plus the Chaplain, lock the Bishop inside the confessional so that he can view the inmates acting out a re-creation of the events that intertwine the Bishop and the convict's lives.

We discover that the convict, Simon, knew the Bishop as a young boy in 1912, when they were students at a boy's school. Simon was in love with a fellow student, Valier, but the future Bishop also lusted after the enticing Simon. Simon is punished by his father for loving another boy, and agrees to a sham marriage. But, ultimately, he is drawn back to his true love, Valier. This leads to the conflict, the death of Valier, and Simon being falsely imprisoned for murder of his great love, all due to the bitterness of the Bishop.

This film is highly unusual in that you see the inmates performing the play in the chapel, then you see the same actors sent back in time to 1912, playing the same parts. Then, you will see the Bishop and the older Simon observing the events of 1912. There are no women in this film. Even in the flashbacks, the inmate-actors portray both male and female characters.

This is not an explicit gay film, by any means. Although there is one very tender, passionate scene of the young Simon and Valier kissing intensely, while naked in a bathtub. The majority of the film is about Simon's past, and bringing the truth out to the dupilicitous Bishop. The acting and photography are excellent, and while the story may be a bit difficult to follow at first, you will need to keep in mind that we are seeing the convicts portraying this tale, even when we go back in time.

It is a very romantic, very well-made, and also a very tragic film.

Rating:
Summary: High quality, intelligent movie making and gay too!
Review: I own this movie and every once in awhile really enjoy watching it again. It is not your typical gay movie like Trick or The Birdcage. It is more intelligent and well done. The quality is first rate and the movie feels more like a big buget production. The story is is one of a group of prison men who reinact a love story between one of the prisoners and his first love that was ended by a preist in their younger days. The movie is all a flashback to what happened in the past and is done very creatively. It's not a comedy and its not camp. Get ready for a moving and interesting movie. Add it to your collection

Rating:
Summary: Hard to stay awake!
Review: With the current situation with priests in the Catholic church this film shows that it has been on on going problem, as early as 1912. It is one of those films you need to view twice in order to fully understand the story line, which is hard to follow the first time viewed. This film is more for the art film crowd, and is not your typical gay love story theme (as is Broken Hearts Club).