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Thomas in Love More at IMDbPro »Thomas est amoureux (original title)

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18 reviews in total

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12 out of 13 people found the following review useful:
Spoof on logical future outcome of Internet-based culture, 22 June 2001
Author: Tabarnouche from Sonar Sound

One of the most stimulating, hilarious, thought provoking films I've seen in years. About an agoraphobe living maybe a decade into the future (in Belgium), when it is possible to have exclusively virtual relationships. Narrator/star has wry sense of humour, yet is quite compassionate and understanding as he goes about his daily business -- in all realms of life -- via interactive electronic media.

Film touches on experiences many of us have had in chat rooms, via email, on ICQ, on web pages, etc. It will probably seem very familiar to you. You're likely to find yourself nodding, "yes, yes, I've done that.... ah, yes, that's just the way it could be....."

Subtly and credibly casted, directed and acted. A film that is good enough to bear viewing two or three times. Something Ridley Scott might have made, if he'd thought of it first and if he'd sworn off violence.

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13 out of 15 people found the following review useful:
A Very Original Movie, 7 March 2004

Author: Claudio Carvalho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In an undefined future having big insurance corporations, Thomas is a thirty-three years old retired man having agoraphobia for eight years. He uses cyber-sex for sexual self-satisfaction and never leaves his place or receives any visit. His apartment has a type of air-lock or ante-room, where he receives his deliveries. Thomas has psychological treatment with his psychiatrist through the video. One day, he knows the therapeutic prostitute Eva, and falls in love with her.

This low-budget movie is one of the most original and intriguing films I have ever seen. This view of the future using the video to achieve all the services is getting closer and closer. The story hooks the attention until the last (disappointing) open scene, when we finally see Thomas. In Brazil, this film is only available on cable television. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Apaixonado Thomas" ("Infactuated Thomas")

Obs: On 17 July 2008, I watched this movie on DVD.

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9 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
Outstanding flick.., 5 October 2003

Author: Exiled_Archangel from Istanbul, Turkey

Thomas In Love is a very interesting film from the first second to the last. It's not the least bit like any other movie I've seen, thus most likely, you'll either love it or hate it. It starts out on a computerized screen, and you begin waiting for the moment it'll jump onto "real life scenes". Now, that was one of the most enjoyable waits of my life, lasting longer than I thought. Thomas In Love is certainly watchable, and even more. Easily 3 stars out of 5, and maybe a 4th one.

But as I said, don't expect to see a Hollywood movie, or a European movie, or a Belgian movie. It's 100%, and not even 99.9%, different than any other movie ever made that I've seen. You might not like it, and as stated above, you could very well hate it. But you'll find it outstanding and interesting for sure, and you won't regret having spent an hour and a half with it EVEN IF you hate it. Watch it!

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6 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Amazing viewing experience, a true original!, 4 March 2003
Author: xx_deleted_xx

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

***caution: may contains SPOILERS***

"Thomas in Love" is an obscure, offbeat, but truly amazing and original film. There's probably a few reasons why it's so obscure; it's from Belgium (which isn't really famous for its films), it was released by a tiny independent company in North America, and it was unfairly handed an NC-17 rating. The main character, Thomas, is an agoraphobe who hasn't left his house or had anyone inside of his house for 8 years. The film is all about his day-to-day interaction through his "visiophone", including mother/son interaction, dating clubs, insurance agents, psychologists, and even an online prostitute service and cybersex! First of all, the film is told entirely from the first person point of view. We never see the main character, Thomas, at all. We only hear his voice. Since Thomas is agoraphobic, this unique narrative really lets us become his character and feel his illness, and all of the isolation, loneliness and heartache he is going through. The idea that the film takes place entirely from images on Thomas' "visiophone" (basically a futuristic combination of a computer, telephone and webcam) may sound a bit boring to some.. but the director keeps things interesting by giving us tons of unique visuals, snarky dialogue and a number of unpredictably interesting situations for us to follow. One interesting touch in particular is the video feedback of the people that Thomas communicates with; the video quality of each person's visiophone basically indicates their financial status, which I thought was a nice touch. The film is very evenly paced; the director opts to keep things short and sweet rather than dragging things out and going for excess. This keeps the film engrossing and ensures that there will not be any boring moments. He leaves a lot of things (especially the ending) wide open for us to think about. This film serves as many things... it's about a mental illness, but it is also a piece of social commentary about how the internet can possibly change the way we communicate even further than it already has.... not to mention, the possibilitlies it has for reclusive people. In a way, too, it is also like a futuristic sci-fi movie. Is this what the future will be like, with visiophones and cybersex suits and online prostitutes? It's a very thought-provoking film, probably best seen with a group of people as it will make for great discussion afterwards. If you are tired of the typical mental illness films (ie - ones that are overly dramatic, sentimental, completely with a supposedly "award calibre" performance complete with weird facial movements and fluttering speech) then you should really give "Thomas in Love" a rental. Don't be misled by the NC-17 rating and the beginning of the film; this is not a pornographic cartoon, and the "Sextoon" thing is only a small part in the overall film. The ratings board should be slapped hard in the face for giving this film that rating; it is quite bad that this quite innocent film has a harsher rating than films like "8MM" and "Hannibal". But, considering that Americans are afraid of sex, it's not surprising. Anyway, if you're looking for a truly unique and original film-going experience, I would highly recommend this film to you. It is a beautiful film that deserves to become a cult favorite.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Not Even a Hang Over could stop me from seeing this Film..., 7 August 2001
Author: Lo (lortiz@intervideo24.com) from Los Angeles

I got up early on Sunday to catch a matinee of Thomas in Love. I had a horrible headache (from all the drinking I did the night before) and i almost thought twice about going to see this french Sci-Fi story about an agoraphobic. But i got up, put on my clothes and head over to the Nuart, my second favorite place in L.A. The movie was astounding, told completely thought the computer and video/phone system that Thomas uses to keep in touch with the world. The movie has a very hopeful and frightening feeling to it, simultaneously, a walking contradiction, like Thomas himself. The film has a very sterile and detached details to it, which is the reason for my fear. Internet will only separate us more, one does not need to live the house, or socialize. With great special efx (that add to the story, not take over), and a simple, almost under written characters, the director manages to pull two love stories in two hours both of them different and haunting, like love itself. The acting was difficult just because is all talking heads, but still is fascinating.

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5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Interesting, 25 January 2004

Author: David Otto (dotto_divad@hotmail.com) from Sydney, NSW Australia

Thomas est amoureux (Thomas in Love) is perhaps one of the most unique and interesting films that I've seen. Although the introduction featuring 'Sextoon' could easily make it dismissable as a film about sex, hang on for a bit and you will discover quite an intelligent film.

It is the not-too-distant future and Thomas is an agoraphobe (one with fear of open air) who has kept himself in his apartment for eight years, communicating only by videophone functionality on his computer. He is advised to try dating services by his psychologist and meets women via the service, one of which starts to change his life.

The entire movie is filmed from the perspective of Thomas' computer screen, this itself gives the film a very unique effect. What also makes this movie interesting is Thomas' development of character - not only is it done very well, it is interesting to see how love can affect an agoraphobe, how he affects other people via the videophone, and how other people affect him. The way the future is portrayed is also quite interesting.

There isn't much to criticise the movie on (one could argue that there was quite a bit of explicit content, but it does seem necessary). That said, it isn't really a masterpiece. But it's still an interesting and impressive film. Recommended.

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4 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Clever Futuristic Computer Romance... A Must See!, 12 September 2004

Author: hokeybutt from Milwaukee, Wisconsin

THOMAS IN LOVE (3+ outta 5 stars)

A severe agoraphobe (afraid of open spaces) spends his whole life shut up in his apartment, experiencing only what he can via his computer screen. Since this takes place in the near future, he can actually see and do quite a bit. (The only problem, same as nowadays, is getting a repair technician to actually make a housecall... but since Thomas *never* leaves his home anyway, this doesn't prove to be too much of a difficulty.) His therapist thinks Thomas could benefit by more human contact so he enrolls Thomas in a dating agency and a medical prostitution service. Thomas is intrigued by a woman he meets in each place... but will either of them be able to get him to leave his apartment and have a real relationship... or will they be stuck in those embarrassing, clunky cybersex suits forever? This very interesting movie takes place entirely from the point of view of Thomas. The audience can only see what Thomas sees on his computer screen. We can hear his voice but we never see his face. The movie is carried by the performances of the people he encounters in his daily routine... everyone is completely believable. In another ten years' time this film will probably seem like a documentary.

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4 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
To complete the "Thomas est amoureux" experience, must visit the official site of thomas-in-love.com, 18 August 2001

Author: Ruby Liang (ruby_fff) from sf, usa

After the film experience of Belgian director Pierre-Paul Renders' "Thomas in Love," if we think about it, the title literally says what the film is all about. Yet in the beginning, we probably don't pay much attention to this title detail, 'cos we are dazzled by the amazing computer-digital video work of Clara and her simulated movements & sounds in 'sextoon.' We get the story of Thomas Thomas, an eight-year agoraphobic 32 year old, by (not actually seeing him, but) his going about his daily activities strictly through the technological device and mercy of videophoning: his interactions with the people he calls up, talks to, cybersex with on screen through his computer. Yes, it may sound like a lot of conversations/dialogs, but the nuances are felt in between the subtle unspoken moments, hesitating pauses… The visuals are impressive: from bright colorful setups, to the intimate background/room environment the person on the screen is in, and the interesting symbols on the faces of each video-in-person, including Thomas' mother and her friends. We also get to view cyber poetry transmitted, and somehow get a sense of how a cybersex suit is applied and plugged-in for virtual two-way connection. It's truly an imaginative filmic experience and it's beyond simply hi-tech alright! The ingenious aspect is how sensitivity and emotions were definitely not lacking throughout the film (and humor is included.) Certainly more warm (and hotter at times) than Wayne Wang's "Center of the World" 2001.

Yes, if you appreciate the film "Thomas in Love," definitely visit its official site sponsored by IFC (served from Independent Film Channel's sextranet) - there is warning prior to entry of the site that it "contains content of a sexually explicit nature which is not suitable for young audiences…continue if you are over the age of 18 and not easily offended by sexual content." So, yes, this film is NFE (Not For Everyone.)

If you're curious about what possibilities of interacting in cyberspace are like, if you care about where love and its power may lead you, if you appreciate innovative and imaginative filmmaking - yes, don't miss Thomas In Love, and visit its official Web site, for sure. (Film is in French with subtitles, site is in English with occasional French.)

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
entertaining indie, 17 September 2005

Author: katheo from United States

thomas in love is an engaging story and with aesthetically pleasing cinematography and colorful sets

i wish the relationships between the characters could have been developed a bit more fully. perhaps casting was the issue because one 'cyber-girlfriend' was much more engaging than the other, which leaves you missing her towards the end of the film.

it might have held together better if it had focused on one major relationship. almost seems as if there was enough raw material to develop into two separate films rather than trying to smush both relationships into one.

but overall, a really enjoyable film!

warning: fast forward past first few minutes if you don't know your date too well-- gratuitous cartoon sex could have been handled with more subtlety. didn't add much except titillation to the storyline.

if you liked this film, check out Lynn Hershman Leeson's TechnoLust. Leeson adds a bit more humor but similar mise en scene & aesthetic.

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5 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Well-done sci-fi short story, 13 July 2004

Author: Mark Wintle from Morris County, New Jersey, USA

I'm surprised by the quantity of gushing reviews of Thomas in Love, which IFC is now showing on cable TV in the US.

This movie feels like a sci-fi short story developed into a short film by a student. The characters aren't very well-developed and the plot is small. The setting is foreign enough to be futuristic, but still familiar. The camera work is unusual and that's half of its charm. It's an exploration of an idea. A one-line plot pitch sums up the whole movie in its entirety. So many other films manage to create a spell in the time allotted to them, or create amazing characters with a wealth of subtleties. This movie doesn't manage that. It doesn't even attempt it. This is not to say it's a bad movie, just that it's not really all that noteworthy either.

While Thomas in Love is thoroughly enjoyable, fun, cute, and stylish in a gently cyberpunk way, it's not a stand-out.

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