Rating: 
Summary: A psyhological study of female sexuality
Review: I think some of the other reviewers who have written above were disappointed because they just didn't get the point of the film. The movie is clearly not supposed to be erotic, sexy, or exaltant of sexuality. This film is about some the dark, desperate, and cruel aspect of female sexuality. The sex in the film is not gratuitous, but neither does it stop at any boundaries. I felt like this movie showed all the scenes that are not shown in every other movie about sex but that one knows the director wanted to. This movie, is honest, and and insofar as it is honest, it also disturbing, because it's topic is not pleasant. Frankly, I don't think any male could every truly relate to the main character or the things she does, but I think it does us good to see a part of femininity that is often swept under the rug. You may not "enjoy" watching this film, but male or female, I reccomend it.
Rating: 
Summary: ROMANCE IS NOT ROMANTIC
Review: There's an unstable, blurry line between art and obscenity that is difficult to clearly define. In an allegedly free society it is pretty much agreed that "snuff" films and "kiddie porn" are not acceptable, but where exactly do depictions of actual sexual encounters belong when they are marketed in art house cinemas and on DVD, not as porn, but as elements of legit feature films? Sex has always been a staple of movies. One way or another, all films are exploitation. Voyeurism is why we watch movies. Recently, a handful of feature films have played with our fascination with observing human sexuality whether it be manifest as control, intimacy or rage. Strong reactions have followed in the wake of these movies. Is it art, obscenity, porn or trash? Does it lift the human spirit and inform? Does it titillate and entertain? Or does incite and debase? The ironically titled "ROMANCE" has been available on DVD in an R-rated version for over a year. It's a simple story about an ordinary looking young woman, a teacher, who looks for anonymous encounters when her model boyfriend won't have sex with her. However, director Catherine Breillat's much more sexually explicit unrated director's cut, is an altogether different film, emotionally anyway, that's a more jolting exploration of a neurotic schoolteacher's search for, well, it's not really sex, but validation via humiliation. It's finally a sad and depressing story that has not an iota of romance or even sensuality. The sentiently detached sexual encounters with unattractive men are discomforting in their blunt visualization. In fact, we are more inclined to feel for the humiliation of the actor playing the teacher. And when the suspension of disbelief is gone and it enters real life it's not particularly pleasant. That crossover of emotional empathy is perhaps the whole purpose, or trick, of the movie. An exceedingly odd artistic goal.
Rating: 
Summary: Pornography disguised and packaged as art
Review: The title of this movie is about as far removed from the subject matter as is humanly possible. The box cover boasts "Possibly the sexiest movie ever made"...pure hogwash. This is a deeply disturbing film about a young woman who has no self esteem or sense of self worth who engages in sexual encounters more as a covert weapon against the man she loves than as a path to her own self fulfilment. There is nothing sexy about the explicitness. Actual fellatio, penetration and ejaculation are depicted, along with several bondage scenes, a rape and a murder. This movie left me feeling as though I'd wasted 98 minutes of my life and $14 on a DVD. The only thing 'groundbreaking' about this film is the place in the landfill where it belongs. If you're going to make a porno flick, don't try disguising it as high art and therefore 'legitimate.' One doesn't have to eat the whole egg to know if it's rotten. I threw my copy in the dumpster.
Rating:
Summary: Watch it in French without the subtitles
Review: I thought this was an excellent adventure in French filmmaking. However, it makes a lot more sense and is easier to comprehend in its native French (without the subtitles). I believe that the translation for the dub and the subtitles was written by a native French speaker because too much of the English translation is literal. I think that this is what subliminally is producing much of the poor reviews by American English speakers. As an example, in the first encounter between Marie and Paulo, in the car Paulo (Rocco Siffredi) says "Bl*w me, baby" in the English translation. I don't believe that Rocco ever said anything so crude in any of his xxx adult features. The translation thing goes on, and on. Overall, the movie treaded on ground seldom tilled in American film. How anybody could say that this movie is sny way degrading to women, would surely indicate that they missed the point, entirely. I would have given this movie 5 stars if the Paul character was more developed to compliment the female lead.
Rating:
Summary: Daring and challenging but oddly cold...
Review: You have to admire the courage of everyone behind this film for the way in which they have approached difficult and potentially inflammatory content. Is it porn or is it art? I would argue neither. In trying to portray one woman's emotional journey as honestly as possible the director has included scenes of actual sexual acts. This could have been erotic but ends up, intentionally I believe, as cold and distanced. Unfortunately that distance serves to alienate the audience and consequently you don't care what happens to any of the characters. A little more eroticism and a little less clinicism would have made for a more rewarding movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Neither romantic nor pornographic
Review: This movie definitely has nothing to do with romance. But it is also not pornographic, contrary to some viewers remarks here (and I am talking about director's cut that contains all explicit parts). Explicit scenes don't bother me as soon as it is used to accentuate the theme of the movie as I believe is the case here (For the example of total meaningless pornography gone mainstream look at 'Baise Moi'). The movie is about women sexuality. It has some interesting, if controversial, ideas. I just don't think it's well done. It's quite slow. Besides, some things the heroine says seem ridiculous to me but I am not an expert on this matter.
Rating: 
Summary: Acurate Dipiction of the Sexual Woman's Mind
Review: This is the psychological journey of a passionate woman whose lover refuses her any form of physical pleasure. Because of her emotional ties to him, and her hesitance to leave him only because of sex, she persues a twisted series of sexual affairs in search of some relief for her desire. The movie makes phenomenal observations about women, who according to the main character, wish to live with the top half of their bodies near their loved ones in a picturesque romance world, and the lower half in the dark corners of wild sexual freedom. This is the first movie I have ever seen that addresses the dark natures of woman's sexuality without degrading or pitying her. Plus, the film is well made, the plot is interesting, and it will leave you feeling quite differently about the way you treat your woman.
Rating:
Summary: What the....?
Review: Would a little French soft porn turn you on? Then this flick is NOT for you, unless of course you enjoy rape scenes, endless gynecological exam scene, extreme close-ups of a (...) birth, and the like. Maybe I'm just not sophisticated enough to get this type of "art". Kinda glad I'm not. I feel dirty.
Rating:
Summary: No date movie
Review: Do not be misled by the cover statements re:sexiness or eroticism. This is a nihilistic, stereotyping, sexist, film. It is an infantile and simplistic representation about the basicness of the female/male sexual enmeshment that spins the cycle of creation/destruction. While it does provoke discussion, in the end it is as intellectually and emotionally unsatisfying as a blank piece of paper that is presented as a minimalistic novel. If you've been depressed and comtemplating suicide, this one may send you on your way. By all means, do not watch this with your lover; it will put you off sex for days, or at least hours.
Rating:
Summary: Sex does not equate with sexy
Review: Perhaps it is the poor dubbing; maybe if I spoke French I could get into this film better. This DVD essentially centers around a woman who has plenty of sex, but little enjoyment from sex. She is deeply in love with a many who will not make love. As the DVD went on, I had a greater empathy for the cat in the latter scene than I did any of the characters. This movie seems emotionally drained but perhaps those involved in aberrant behavior will get insight from this movie. This certainly is not a feel good movie and I have seen better from the director. The real gripe I have is that the poor dubbing detracts from everything even if the mood is not upbeat.
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