My Life on Ice

Rating:
Summary: Beneath the surface
Review: My Life on Ice is a fitting title for the fragile ground upon which Etienne walks. The movie may seem slow paced and even uneventful throughout but the normalcy belies the sense of alienation and despair that Etienne feels about being gay. Etienne standing on the very edge of the cliff where his teacher had previously fallen and broken his leg may seem like a simple stroll to muse at the beautiful ocean but for those who have been in a similar coming out situation it will seem so much more menacing than that. The movie, more in documentary style than anything, is not Oscar worthy but I give it 5 stars for the force of impact that the ending has and for the talent and beauty of one of France's up and coming figure skaters that is both mesmerizing and heart felt.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent ! ! ! !
Review: My Life on Ice" (Ma vraie vie a Rouen) is excellent. Set in beautiful Normandy, Etienne, our 16 year old protaganist recieves a digital video camera as a gift from the mother of his father that he never knew. He films everything religiously, and thus the story is told without music or naration. The film is a front row seat to a boys life. The French is the street French spoken by French youth.

Living alone with his mother, he and his best friend struggle through the issues of their sexuality, Etienne finally coming to terms with his own homosexuality. This film dramatic and an overall must see! This DVD version is excellent as well, with a variety of subtitling options.

Rating:
Summary: A year in the life of a handsome ice skater boy
Review: Some critics say this movie isn't dealing about anything. That's true. It just deals about a 16 year old ice skater who gets a videocamera and films his life over one year. He's preparing for an ice skating championship, his best friend wants to be an actor is is having one girlfriend after the other, his history professor is starting a relationship with his mother and he comes to terms with being gay. That's not revolutionary, no. But it's nice. I guess the critics who did not like this movie, were not charmed by the debuting actor Jimmy Tavares who is great. (he's a real ice skating champion and gives a daring performance). He will remind people of Jamie Bell in Billy Elliott. Maybe the two can star together in a movie! If you liked Drole De Felix and Billy Elliott, you'll like this one as well.

Rating:
Summary: A rewarding journey for the patient film fan.
Review: This leisurely paced mock documentary from France utilizes an interesting convention to explore the life of a young figure skater. The story begins as Etienne receives a video camera for his sixteenth birthday, and begins using it to chronicle the people and events in his life. The story is told entirely through the perspective of Etienne's camera lens, which sounds like a convention that could quickly grow tiresome, but actually adds a great deal to the development of the story. Tentative at first, Etienne's camerawork develops and grows more assured throughout the film, in some ways mirroring Etienne's interests and personal development. Etienne's initial subjects are random faces and scenes from his family, friends and day-to day life. Slowly, the subjects of Etienne's interests become less random, and as he begins to sharpen his focus, the path of his personal journey is made clear. An obsession with a teacher, sexually-oriented conversations with his best friend, and attempts at capturing people in various states of undress - all normal curiosities which help shed light upon Etienne's internal questioning. Some uncomfortable moments of confrontation lead to a dramatic crossroads, but the filmmaker and the audience have enough knowledge and feeling about Etienne to know that he will find the right path for himself.

This is not a film that everyone will enjoy. Those with Attention Deficit Disorder, or who lose interest in a movie if something isn't blowing up every few minutes will most likely find themselves quickly bored. Patient viewers who are willing to watch the puzzle pieces fall into place, however, will find great rewards in this satisfying slice of life exploration. Pop yourself some popcorn, turn of the phone, and let Etienne take you on a journey through his world.

Rating:
Summary: A rewarding journey for the patient film fan.
Review: This leisurely paced mock documentary from France utilizes an interesting convention to explore the life of a young figure skater. The story begins as Etienne receives a video camera for his sixteenth birthday, and begins using it to chronicle the people and events in his life. The story is told entirely through the perspective of Etienne's camera lens, which sounds like a convention that could quickly grow tiresome, but actually adds a great deal to the development of the story. Tentative at first, Etienne's camerawork develops and grows more assured throughout the film, in some ways mirroring Etienne's interests and personal development. Etienne's initial subjects are random faces and scenes from his family, friends and day-to day life. Slowly, the subjects of Etienne's interests become less random, and as he begins to sharpen his focus, the path of his personal journey is made clear. An obsession with a teacher, sexually-oriented conversations with his best friend, and attempts at capturing people in various states of undress - all normal curiosities which help shed light upon Etienne's internal questioning. Some uncomfortable moments of confrontation lead to a dramatic crossroads, but the filmmaker and the audience have enough knowledge and feeling about Etienne to know that he will find the right path for himself.

This is not a film that everyone will enjoy. Those with Attention Deficit Disorder, or who lose interest in a movie if something isn't blowing up every few minutes will most likely find themselves quickly bored. Patient viewers who are willing to watch the puzzle pieces fall into place, however, will find great rewards in this satisfying slice of life exploration. Pop yourself some popcorn, turn of the phone, and let Etienne take you on a journey through his world.