Down By Love [DVD]

This film as a whole is so-so, in my opinion. Admittedly, I'm not very familiar with the original backstory, so perhaps with context it would be more interesting.It's really a shame because Adele Exarchopoulos is *such* a brilliant actress, however to be completely honest her character itself is very weak and I feel she was barely given anything to even work with; to begin with, she is barely given any real speaking lines and the emotional depth to this character is immensely shallow. Such a shame because I do think this story had real potential to show a complex power dynamic/ imbalance between these two characters, but really all we got is a bored husband and father attracted to some hot young woman captured by the brilliance of numerous and predictable male-gaze oriented shots. This story could have easily been a mixture of disturbing, dark passion demonstrating a certain unspoken self awareness of "forbidden love" by actually acknowledging Jean's wrongdoings in this situation, but instead all we got was the usual basic mid-life crisis of yet another white male set in a prison and a female character written to be as exciting as a piece of wet bread. And the pacing is off and weird.So sad, considering Adele especially, as I'm unfamiliar with her co-star's work, has such an immense range of emotion and talent. She's worth a lot more than a "I live for nothing but you" bland sort of character, as the camera pans over her body.

This was quite a good film and if you like French films you'll be familiar with the slowish pace of them at time. The two main characters in it are believable and you do feel some empathy for both of them in a way. Quite a lot of sex but it doesn't feel particularly gratuitous or over used. Passed a Saturday afternoon and the ending was quite good as it kind of kept you guessing. Felt there could have been more included about the real reason the girl was in prison, not explained and apparently its based on a true story so why didn't they expand on it?All in watchable!

I chose to watch this film because I like Adele's acting, having seen her for the first time in a not too good film, smile. I find that French films have a bit too much explicit sex for my liking - and insufficient love expressed. Ocassionally one must put two and two together because the plot jumps a bit. Guillaume Gallienne was unknown to me before seeing this film but I can honestly say that he is now one of my most favourite actors. I actually found myself getting emotional for him at the end of the film - being an 'old softie', smile - but was pleased when I realised that Anna did love him and had seemingly rejected him in order to ... Oops, sorry mentioning the ending would spoil the film therefore I will say no more other than that all of the actors/actresses did a very good job too.

It was a long film for what really was a couple of scenes.Man meets beautiful inmate, falls in love with inmate, inmate has mental illness and complexes, middle aged man has complexes. Like the teacher said he is in a prison so is she.The leading actress needs to find roles were she is not always having sex. My advice think Meryl Streep, find parts with more words.

Really enjoyed great cast reccomend

Did not hold my interest.

Excellent music, drama and acting. Was slightly slow but this is what gets you more engaged with the movie. Thoroughly enjoyed.

well worth watchingNote the Adele Character was involved ( as a honey-pot ) in a kidnapping and torture case that gripped and shocked France both because of the fear of resurgence of antisemitism (because the crime was motivated by antisemitism and money) and also because of the vicious nature of the crime committed.This was called ' The Affair of the Gang of Barbarians ' - which is not mentioned in the Film