Customer Rating:  
Summary: A wasted opportunity
Comment: Others have written about being moved to tears by this movie, and certainly when it originally played in London it became a kind of group therapy for its (largely gay) audience. Maybe if you are carried along on a wave of collective emotion, it could be very powerful, but watching a DVD at home somehow seems a more clinical experience. You pause to go to the toilet or make a coffee or whatever; you can reverse to scenes, or to remind yourself, or whatever. And that kind of communal experience is lost.
So I have to say that this is a very manipulative movie, and I found myself resenting it. The characters have little depth, the boy is unbearably cute, especially as a girl - would we have so much sympathy with an ugly transsexual, I ask myself? I find it hard to believe that EVERY parent in a school in France in 1997 would sign a petition to get rid of a 7-year-old boy who likes wearing frocks. Latvia, yes, or 1957. And at the end the turnaround where the parents come to accept him seems perfunctory and too easily won.
That said, it merits 3 stars for the quality of the central performance, and two "wow" moments - one where Ludo is discovered in the freezer, trying to freeze himself to death, eyes closed and a cross in his hands; the other when he meets Chris, who wanted to play with him, and Chris is called away by Mother - "Christine...."
Because the scales are so heavily weighted, it's the sort of movie which appeals to those with a sense of beleaguerment in the world. It flatters an audience because it is impossible not to believe that you are better than all the characters in the movie (apart from Ludo, of course). As such it misses several tricks in dealing with real prejudice in adult ways. A feel-good movie that could have been so much more.
Customer Rating:
Summary: very good dvd quality - and a superb film
Comment: The Main menu audio volume on this DVD is too high - causing lots of "clipping" - but the quality of the video and audio in the film itself is perfect. The DVD-5 (single layer) disc uses anamorphic 16:9 to display the 1.85:1 original theatrical ratio and audio is Dolby 2.0 stereo. There is less than 10 minutes of extra features - so there's not likely to have been much gained anyway if it were a dual layer disc.
The English subtitles are fixed (not an optional feature) - but non-French speaking viewers will welcome the fact that they are very easy to read.
Ma Vie En Rose is one of my favourite films. Everything about it is first class - but especially its huge beautiful heart. I saw the film in cinematic release here in Brisbane first on my own - and then in company with my friend Philippa who had experienced first hand the reality of lifelong gender dysphoria. We both cried.
Too nany people (gay men included) judge transgenders as having made a decision as adults to change their gender identity - when very often the awareness has been there all their lives.
Ma Vie En Rose is not only a beautiful and engaging family drama - but a charming and empowering fantasy (based soundly in reality).
Every parent should see this film, so they can be prepared to accept and support their children, just as they.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Comment: Uncomfortable viewing at times but the beauty of unconditional love shines through.
This is well directed and scripted, albeit with a surreal ending. It is the story of a young boy who is confident of his own sexuality - he thinks he is a female. This suremindedness exposes the prejudices of family, friends and acqaintances creating a psychological and physical whiplash.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Comment: I adore this film.
It is beautiful, frustrating, powerful, funny and eloquent. The world of Pam can be appreciated by anyone with a love of the kitsch.
I find it intensely irritating when I come across this film categorised into 'Gay Interest' films. This is not a sexual film about being gay, straight, cross-dressing, transgender etc etc. It is a simple and wonderful film exploring a little boy's confusion about gender identity and acceptance, and having to cope with his family and the communtity's hostility and narrow-mindedness. This, I feel, can be appreciated by all. Georges du Fresne, who plays Ludovic, is simply fantastic and plays his character with pure devotion; an absolute gem.
I wouldn't call it a family film though, unless perhaps one has a child dealing with similar issues.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great film!
Comment: Ma Vie En Rose is one of those films that has you laughing out loud at times!
It tells the story of 7 year old Ludovic who enjoys dressing up as a girl. His parents, school and neighbours are horrifed at his behaviour, and the film closely examines the feelings, attitudes and hypocrasy Ludovic finds himself battling - both on a personal level and as expressed by the wider community surrounding him.
There are some fantastic performances in this film - particularly by the children.
A must-see film for all the family!
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![Ma Vie En Rose [1997]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51X5HSA2XGL._SL160_.jpg)
