Rating: 
Summary: A French version of Lolita.
Review: A two-bit bar pianist (Patrick Dewaere's role as Remy) is married to a woman with a 14 year old daughter. (Hence "beau pere," the french word for stepfather, but also meaning "handsome father.") The woman is killed in a car accident, and he must raise his stepdaughter alone. She falls in love with him, and they have a secret affair. (Nobody can do "pubescent love affair" movies quite like the French. They are the unchallenged masters of this particular genre.)If you can ignore the "eww factor" of a 35 year old man having an affair with a 14 year old girl (or perhaps more accurately "the Woody Allen factor"), this is really a wonderful movie. One of the best I've ever seen, and one of my all time favorites. It is beautifully shot, wonderfully edited, has great timing, and one of the best piano sound tracks ever written. The soundtrack, composed exclusively for the movie by Philippe Sarde, is available from ... on CD. (I'm listening to it right now, in fact. One of the compositions, "Une Vraie Virtuose," is a masterpiece which could rival anything ever written for the piano!) The movie is basically a touching, top-notch romantic comedy with overtones of tradgedy in it. The biggest tradgedy, which runs throughout the movie, is that their love affair is something to be ashamed of. Marion (Ariel Besse) is remarkably mature for a 14 year old, and Remy is somewhat immature for his age. So the two are well ballanced, and probably have the same mental and emotional age. Nevertheless, it is still the story of a 35 year old man having a romantic affair with his 14 year old stepdaughter, and such an affair cannot have a happy ending. It can only exhist for the moment, but not for the future. But then again, that is the attraction of affairs, isn't it? They are only for the present, with no worries about, or aspirations for the future. There is one wonderful scene in the movie where Remy goes to visit Charlotte (Nathalie Baye), a piano virtuoso, and the woman of his dreams. This scene is one of the most wonderfully choreographed and timed things I've ever seen on the big screen. Again, if you can ignore your natural reservations about the premise of the movie, and just enjoy it as a brilliant romantic comedy, I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Artfully done, but a depressing story as can be expected ...
Review: A wonderfully done film. Of the select few films out there that deal with intergenerational relationships this, I would say, is one of the classics. As is with the majority of these types of films, the relationship is mostly futile, and the ending leaves much to be desired for. However, nothing can top the beautiful soundtrack, camera work (though not overly spectacular, but still pleasant), and the fact that it's untouched by dubbing. It is wholly somewhat depressing, I think, and has quite a sad ending, but I just can't get past the genuine art of the film. If you're looking for a sexual film, this isn't really it. There is a bit of nudity, but only as much as can be expected for the time it was made. Also, what is so unique about this film, is that the girl is the one who trys to seduce the man, not so much the other way around. All-in-all, it's more of an artsy film than anything else, but it's worth having in your library.
Rating: 
Summary: Beau Pere
Review: After the sudden death of his wife, Remy (Patrick Dewaere), is forced to take care of his 14-year-old stepdaughter (Ariel Besse) who, unbeknownst to him, has fallen in love with him. Ariel does a very nice acting job and is very pretty, but the nude scenes are lacking in both quantity and content. There is no frontal nudity of her and you get only a glimpse of her backside when walking to her room and also when sitting on the bed. I know that you not need nudity or sexual situations to tell a story but after seeing Ariel the movie leaves you wanting more.
Rating:
Summary: Do not miss this movie
Review: Another great movie from Bertrand Blier, perhaps his most sensitive. There is no trick, no overplay, the actors are just playing right (Hollywood's actors should be banned to play something else than action movies!). Patrick Dewaere was really a superb actor who's live was too short.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but odd movie
Review: BEAU PERE (Step-Father): I purchased this DVD due to its recommendation following my past purchase of Penthouse's "Caligula (Unrated version)". At first, I was a bit uneasy about viewing this movie due to its taboo subject matter, however, I'm now glad I ignored the ranting of the hysterics who claim this movie to be merely another pedophile flick. And, overall, I honor the fact this movie was rated a complete 4 of 4 stars (top score) by the Video Movie Guide. Despite the bizarre nature of this film, the storyline of "Beau Pere" seemed very well-written and interesting to follow. Watching the characters (especially Marion & Remy) work through their situation(s) kept me pined to my tv screen, the way one would be enthralled by a good book they just couldn't put down. I found myself forever anticipating the next scene just to see what would prevail (Will they get caught? What will be the final outcome for this couple; Will Remy abandon Marion or persue his new love-interest?). The ending to this movie just may surprise you. And not to mention, the closing scene will definitely leave you with profound curiosity. PROS: (1): Good Storyline = flows steadily and sensibly, as in accordance to the theme of the movie. (2): Good casting = the portrayal of the characters by the actors/actresses was very convincing. Actually, at times, almost too convincing. Sometimes I wondered "Are they really acting (Patrick Dewaere [Remy] & Ariel Besse [Marion]), or do they really love each other?" (3): Props/Scenery/etc. = Though lacking the sophistication of modern cinema to date, the props/scenery/wardrobes seem appropriate for this film's rendition, and thus give the viewer a feel of the time-period/setting the characters are in, making for an enjoyable program. ----------------- CONS: I only have two complaints, really -- (1): Though the picture clarity (& sound quality) of this DVD is very good, the widescreen format, to me, seemed a bit too wide: more narrow than the average widescreen formated films I've seen. (2): In a few places, the English subtitle captions are out of synchronization with the actors who are speaking at the time. But other than that, the DVD plays well and is enjoyable. Despite the cons, I still recommend Beau Pere for anyone with an interest in cinema/theater...or just want an interesting, odd movie for a rainy day.
Rating:
Summary: A Love Story
Review: Beau Pere is a moving and sensitive story of a woman who, after the death of her mother, falls in love with her stepfather. The woman (she points out to him that she is a woman) is fourteen years old. She is persistent in her love for him and he finally yields to her desire for a sexual relationship. I highly recommend the film. Please note: my copy of the DVD had problems with the synchronization of the English subtitles during the middle part of the film. The subtitles were ahead of the actors' words. Still, the DVD is well worth owning.
Rating:
Summary: provocative and passionate
Review: Beau Pere is the brilliant account of a love affair that defies modern laws such as age. Besse and Dewaere give a captivating and moving performance. Remy (Dewaere)and Marion (Besse) are as Remy comments,two people who have just gone through a storm-they must pick up the pieces together. After the death of Remy's wife and Marion's mother, they must comfort each other. The sophisticated 14 year old Marion developes an attraction for the 29 1/2 year old Remy. Dewaere displays beautifully the tenderness and longing of his character in dealing with Marion's advances. However, Remy recognizes the fact that he also has developed feelings for Marion and the inevitability of their union is evident. Blier brilliantly captures the birth and maturity of the relationship and the tragedy that befalls it. The eloquence of Besse combined with the strength of Dewaere create one of the most passionate and believable love affairs in film history.
Rating:
Summary: Beau Pere
Review: BEAU-PERE (Stepfather) is a beautifully woven story of love that just happens to touch on the aspect of an older man falling in love with a fourteen year old girl - and his step-daughter at that! Remi (Patrick Dewaere) is a salon piano player, narrating how lonely is that life, that it keeps him apart from his fashion model wife Martine(Nicole Garcia). The superimposed distance of their careers leads them to the brink of separation when suddenly Martine is killed in an auto accident. This leaves the Remi to care for his 14 year old stepdaughter Marion (a radiant Ariel Besse). She wants to continues living with Remi instead of her biologic father who is an alcoholic and cold man. In the end Marion admits her love for Remi, lives with him as a lover, and eventually grows into the streams that life unfolds: Remi evetually falls in love with a painist his own age and Marion accepts here real father as the one who is more needy of her afection. Though the term "pedophilia" could be applied here, it is so gently and sophistcated captured that it seems as natural as Remi and Marion feel. The cast (including the the stil lovely Nathalie Baye) is uniformly excellent and Bertrand Blier has created a timeless movie that bears repeated watching.
Rating:
Summary: A Brave Film, not only for 1981, but even for 2003
Review: BEAU-PERE (Stepfather) is a beautifully woven story of love that just happens to touch on the aspect of an older man falling in love with a fourteen year old girl - and his step-daughter at that! Remi (Patrick Dewaere) is a salon piano player, narrating how lonely is that life, that it keeps him apart from his fashion model wife Martine(Nicole Garcia). The superimposed distance of their careers leads them to the brink of separation when suddenly Martine is killed in an auto accident. This leaves the Remi to care for his 14 year old stepdaughter Marion (a radiant Ariel Besse). She wants to continues living with Remi instead of her biologic father who is an alcoholic and cold man. In the end Marion admits her love for Remi, lives with him as a lover, and eventually grows into the streams that life unfolds: Remi evetually falls in love with a painist his own age and Marion accepts here real father as the one who is more needy of her afection. Though the term "pedophilia" could be applied here, it is so gently and sophistcated captured that it seems as natural as Remi and Marion feel. The cast (including the the stil lovely Nathalie Baye) is uniformly excellent and Bertrand Blier has created a timeless movie that bears repeated watching.
Rating:
Summary: 20 Minutes of Botched Subtitles
Review: Excellent movie, definitely worth five stars, but for approximately 20 minutes in the middle of the DVD the subtitles are wrong. One subtitle has been left out, so every other one appears a line "early," which is VERY hard to make sense of. I wrote to Fox Lorber directly about this problem and received no response whatsoever. Let the buyer beware!
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