Rating: 
Summary: not just another paedophile movie
Review: Remi, a struggling pianist, loses his wife in a car accident and becomes the caretaker of his 14 year old step daughter (Marion). After much willful insistence, he succombs to the girl's sexual advances: this is the premise of Bertrand Blier's 1981 film "Beau Pere." The film is often rather farcical in its transitions from one scene to the next and the reflective pauses in the narrative during which characters speak directly to the camera are comical. Remi's moral crisis is the focus of "Beau Pere" - can he ethically make love to a 14 year old girl? Overall, the film is quite watchable and could not have been made in the United States. Ariel Besse is lovely as Marion - unlike so many portrayals of teenage girls she is neither frivolous nor characterized as jailbait. Patrick Deweare plays the step father in turns tender, pathetic, passionate and cruel. Though flawed and at times disappointing, "Beau Pere" is still the most sensitive treatment of this subject matter I've seen to date. I would like to add, however, that this is not, as the video description indicates, a "study of pedophila." Remi's sexual orientation is not generally directed at children - his affair with Marion emerges out of very specific circumstances.
Rating: 
Summary: I Wish Americans Could Make Films Like This
Review: Sadly, a film like this could never be made in the United States. It's more than just the fact that a story about an older man having a sexual relationship with his 14-year-old stepdaughter would never get made or would get a MPAA rating assuring that no one would ever see it. It's that American sensibilities would change the story into something dirty and degrading. It would be totally unlike the beautiful, yet painful, story presented in this French film. On the surface, this story begins like Nabakov's Lolita--a young girl is left with her stepfather when her mother is killed in an automobile accident. The similarities end here, however. Remy is no Humbert. He loved his wife (in his fashion) and has no designs on his stepdaughter until she professes her desire for him. Remy's intellectual "morality" then struggles with his natural desire for the girl until he is overcome, not without some help. Their relationship then progresses to its inevitable end but not with the smoldering ruin that would be the American version of the story but with two immature people growing up a little bit. I found this film to be a wonderful experience. I wish films like this could be made in this country without ending up like The Crush or Poison Ivy. Instead, Americans have to settle with reading subtitles and coping with Puritanical morals. Still, it's worthwhile to do so with a movie like this. (Note: In my DVD version of this film, the subtitles got off-track with the dialogue for about twenty minutes half-way through the film and then righted themselves.)
Rating:
Summary: Good film, but poor DVD subtitling
Review: THE FILM: It's a shame that a lot of people won't get to see this french movie. For some it will be the ignorance of watching a foreign language film, but for others there's also the highly taboo subject matter; this alone will stop many viewers from going anywhere near it on account of their principals. As I said, it's a shame as it's a very good film and the subject matter is delicately handled throughout. The biggest difference to this particular lolita-type film is that it's the young girl that seduces the older man, and not vice versa. Patrick Dewaere is good as the older man, but it's the scintillating performance of Ariel Besse as the beautiful young girl that stands out. Showing a maturity way beyond her years, you start to empathize with Patrick's character and the moral dilemmas he has to contend with. THE DVD; Unfortunately, Beau Pere has been given a somewhat poor DVD release. Don't expect any extras; the picture quality is ok, but not great; and you can't even get a time display up to see where you are in the movie!; However, it's the poor subtitling that disappoints the most. As many have already pointed-out, the subtitles go out of synch for about 20 minutes or so during the movie, which makes matters a little confusing. Not only that, but occasionally subtitles will flash-up on the screen very briefly, not even giving you time to read them!. Several times I had to "rewind" the picture, and then pause the DVD so I could read it!. Whilst I don't regret buying the DVD of Beau Pere, this poor subtitling will put me off watching this movie as many times as I would of done otherwise. Very good film, but fans of Beau Pere demand a new DVD release now!!!.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie from start to end.
Review: The movie starts out with the death of a young girls (14 years old) mother. She is raised by her step father, and fall in love. The film is very well done and is not deemed to be perverted in any way. The step father tries his best to resist the young las, however his temptations over ride his will in the end. Great film, highly recomeded...
Rating:
Summary: Same old story great film
Review: The same lolita theme of inevitably flawed and sure to fail love. However the story is powerfully and convincingfully told. For those looking for nudity buy a Naturist DVD ...-- For those looking for a cinematic portrayal of a gripping but sad story this film will please. The DVD version of this title is no better than the VHS version.
Rating:
Summary: Same old story great film
Review: The same lolita theme of inevitably flawed and sure to fail love. However the story is powerfully and convincingfully told. For those looking for nudity buy a Naturist DVD ...-- For those looking for a cinematic portrayal of a gripping but sad story this film will please. The DVD version of this title is no better than the VHS version.
Rating:
Summary: Technically flawed - but intriguing movie
Review: The technical flaws were described in other reviews - so I won't repeat it. Enough to say the 20 minutes where the sub-titles are not alligned with the french soundtrack (and I do not understand french) is really a pitty. The movie itself is very good, on a controvertial topic - but it is handled with masterful and loving hands, so it is interesting till the end (which is the weakest part of the movie).
Rating:
Summary: Beau Pere - Ariel Besse
Review: There have been many great reviews about this movie already so I'll just supply the information that everyone else seems to leave out. Ariel Besse gives a great performance but if you're looking for a lot of nudity and sex this film is not for you. While you do get to see Ariel topless a number of times, you don't see complete frontal nudity. And all you get is a slight glimpse of her nude backside when she's walking to her room. You can also see part of her rear when she's sitting on the bed. Excellent story and well acted, but very short on nudity, especially when Ariel is such a pretty girl.
Rating:
Summary: Tolerable handling of the intolerable
Review: There's something scary whenever a young girl gets sexually involved with her adult guardian. But this isn't a retread of Lolita. The girl is a real and sympathetic, if wayward, character, and the step father seems to honestly try to do the right thing. The conclusion is enigmatic enough to satisfy urges for realism. Private scenes satisfy those curious to watch the evolving relationship as well as giving a little to voyeurs.
Rating:
Summary: Artful eroticism, for adults!
Review: This film was daring for 1981, and given recent history it is probably even more so now. Fun and a little comic at times, it nonetheless explores a tremendously controversial type of relationship. The acting is good throughout, the film is technically well executed. This is exciting and provocative subject matter - and in my humble opinion this is definitely a film for adults only.
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