Annabelle receives a stern rebuke from the principal, Mother Immaculate, for audaciously flaunting her Buddhist prayer beads. Simone is given the responsibility of controlling her. At first Simone requests the principal to move Annabelle to another dormitory but soon notices her maturity and sensitivity and convinces her to comply with the school regulations. In the process Annabelle falls in love with Simone. Simone resists Annabelle’s delicate overtures until they are left alone at the school during spring break. Simone drives Annabelle to her beach house where Annabelle discovers painful personal details about Simone’s past. Annabelle holds Simone tightly in her arms as Simone breaks down. A deep emotional connection is established between the two. Simone fights a hard battle with herself but is eventually overpowered by Annabelle’s relentless pursuit. At the annual school dance when Annabelle pours her heart out with a song. Simone is consumed by intense emotions and kisses Annabelle. They end up making passionate love. The next morning Mother Immaculata walks in on them getting dressed and demands to see Simone in her office immediately. On being questioned if she did the right thing Simone admits that she loves Annabelle. Government officials arrest Simone and just as she is leaving, Annabelle places her most prized possession – the Buddhist prayer beads – in her hands. Annabelle tearfully looks at her pictures taken by Simone at the beach house while Simone is driven away. The movie ends with the following quote – ‘For one human being to love another that is perhaps the most difficult of all our tasks…the work for which all other work is but preparation. Source: Wikipedia PERSONAL REVIEW I have come across this movie a couple of times but didn't bother to watch it because I thought it's boring.I have my reasons not to like it but last night,I can't sleep and decided to watch some videos and have come across it again and I was really curious so I decided to just go for it.Turns out,it was really a beautiful love story told in the most queer way and I loved it.It was very beautiful in terms of the following; TEACHER-STUDENT RELATIONSHIP First of all,the relationship is so much complicated and It's very wrong in a lot of ways.First,Simone is a teacher and as a teacher,it is in the code of conduct not to have sexual relationship with your student.Second,they are in a Catholic School and we know that Catholics or most religous groups do not usually support gay people.Third,there's a huge age gap.Simon is probably more than half the age of Annabelle.Fourth,Simone have a cool and understanding boyfriend who's being puzzled of the changes in her and she cannot admit it to him that she's gay. What made it beautiful you might ask me.Well,because it's not the typical drama where they met for the first time and ended making out which is the usual case in most movies.It's not a typical femlash movie where gays go around annoucing they are gay.In this story,Simone kept her personal life a secret because she values the love she have with Amanda.She was in love with her and that love had stayed with her for such a long time.It was just so sad because she's got a loving boyfriend probably thinking maybe she can get over it and just go with what's acceptable in the society but she was wrong.She can't fully commit herself to him and he can feel it. On the part of Annabelle,the process of her falling in love was beautiful.The connection they have the first time they met is extra ordinary.She knew nothing about her but the moment she saw and listened to her,she was intrigue and that certain kind of connection is beautiful.Not all people have that kind of connection.Simone on the other hand had rejected Annabelle on more than one occasion for morality's sake.But it's obvious,Annabelle's presence stirred her.She was bothered and confused with what she feels until one day,she can't hold on anymore and she gave in. When she was confronted by mother Immaculata,she seemed so ready with the consequences.She even told mother Immaculata that she loved the girl.She seemed to have thought about it and accepted the consequences.No school drama.No lesbian bullying.No show for the school.Nothing.They just took her away.The flow of the story is beautiful. AGE GAP It's creeppy I know.If you're a middle aged woman and you're looking at some girl and you fell in love.This is a very sensitive case because for sure,people will put their judgement to whoever is older in the relationship.What's really crappy about this culture is the unfair misrepresentation of women.When an older man falls in love with a girl,most people would see him as strong and capable and sometimes he even earn respect for it.But if you are a young girl who fell in love with an older man,they will accuse you of being a gold digger.Now if you're an old woman who fell in love with a boy,they will regard you as slut and mentally retarded.Seriously,what's with the unfair representation of women.I thought we are in the 21st century where there is equality among us? Then why can't women love whoever they wanted to love and be given the same respect? I just don't understand. LOVE MAKING SCENE I don't usually give attention to love scenes specially in gay themed movies because I mostly hated the representation of women when it comes to sex.Though there are some decent ones that I like.As for this movie,I can't help but feel the effect of their love making and it really gets me.Maybe it has something to do with that special connection.The way they stare at each other is a package of emotional longing,confrontation,fear,love and doubts.There's only one love making in this film but it is very powerful.It sends a beautiful message .I'm not talking about the sex act alone or the hot feeling it gave me watching it.Actually,I'm more of the details like the way they kiss,hold hands,discover each others body.The way they claim each other to me is pure passion and love.Not just sex and to me,it's very beautiful. ON SCREEN CHEMISTRY
Erin who played Annabelle has a wild darkness in her that fits her character.On the other hand,Diane Gaidry is perfect in her character as Simon.She did it well as a woman who is troubled and confused.You can see the pain in her eyes.Annabelle can sense that she's suffering the way she talks to class.It's mostly weird to watch such movies where an older woman fell in love with a girl half her age but their case is very special.In fact,I forgot that part while watching it because I'm more of wanting what will she do to address that issue.I'm more focus of the story they are telling rather than the disturbing fact that she's in love with a girl.They are both fantastic and I love them both. Bottomline is I might have enjoyed watching the movie but I truely hope that none of this things are happening in real life because It must be so hard to handle given the chance.In movies,we can manage to bend the story based on how we wanted it but in real life,people can really be so rude and the consequences will be so hard.So I ask cupid to be gentle as much as possible.I hope that more and more people specially women will have their freedom to love and live in their own world and be accepted and understood by those surrounding them.On the other hand,I hope that they will not over do it or make things superficial.I hope that people will be more responsible in actions specially when it comes to moral obligations.I also hope that people will not take advantage of the situation but rather,uplift, help and promote awareness and remind each other kindly.Most of all,I hope that people will not base their love story on movies and books because I'm sure there's a very huge difference in reality and movies are solely for entertainment purposes only.Occasionally,there are some that are very encouraging but be wise enough to determine which is fantasy and which is reality.
1 Comment
Amber
11/24/2021 05:23:27 am
I just came across this movie on netflix....and it got to me. If, like you did, look past the age difference and teacher student thing...you'll see what this is all about. Love.
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