Lie with Me (2022) User Reviews

A Touching yet familiar story with great acting

[Garcwrites · 8/10 · 23 February 2023]

As is the book, the story here is autobiographical and it is felt. The movie captures that quite well, there's a rawness to it that makes it feel like you're watching these events as they are unfolding whether they are in the present or the flashbacks. A movie that goes back and forth between the present and the past is nothing new, and someone reminiscing on their first love isn't either, but this film does a good job of it in the way it's structured. The flashbacks actually feel like memories, as bittersweet as they can be, and contrast well with Stephane now as he's still hurt by them and yet cherish them.

The whole cast is great but there are standouts. Guillaume De Tonquédec is the only actor in the cast I knew by sight but I've seen him more in comedic roles - at least that's the memory I have of him - but he nails it. His internal emotional turmoil reads perfectly as he comes back into town and meets Lucas. In the present scenes, it's mostly him and Victor Belmondo - famous last name and familiar features but the first time I've heard or seen him in anything - they are good but not as poignant as the flashbacks. Julien De Saint-Jean and Jérémy Gillet are just amazing in this film, their scenes give life and weight to the scenes in the present. These flashbacks are intense, believable, and capture gay teenage love well.

Lie with Me / Arrête avec tes Mensonges is sweet considering what it's about, even light at times but it works.

@garcwrites.

Calm and soft take on lost love

[bohdanascheinostova · 8/10 · 24 May 2023]

"Lie With Me" presents to us a moving tale of first love, secret love and lost love.

On the other hand we also get to see a story about finding out the true character and personality of the ones close to you and also about being honest and candid to yourself. At the core of this picture stands the beautiful and complex acting performance of Guillaume de Tonquedec as the shy and introverted writer Stéphane, who has been and still is openly gay. As a parallel to his character serves Thomas - his first lover - who was in contrast to Stéphane the "popular kid" at their high school but was ashamed of being attracted to a man and as we learn throughout the film - was still ashamed to his dying day. Eventhough this dynamic might seem as a cliche (the "shy character gets secrestly together with the extroverted one") "Lie With Me" provides an interesting take on this genre with its use of queer characters and the fact that Thomas is struggling with his sexual orientation mostly because of himself and his own inner fights (not because of what people around him would think).

I must also mention the simple yet effective way the script was constructed in and also the splendid soft and charming music score.

Simply Beautiful

[bewerkelijkste · 9/10 · 26 May 2023]

It's hard to eplain why this movie works. The theme is hardly original as is the plot, but the way this is told is just magnificent, and the acting is brilliant all across the board.

It takes a certain kind of restraint from a filmmaker to tell a small story so tenderly and moving without going for gut punching tearjerking moments. But that is exacty what is on display here. The feelings are real, the emotions run deep, but the actors deliver it all delicate and beautiful.

The 'older' cast is wonderful, the 'son of' is great to look at but the joy of teenage love in the flashbacks and the actors portraying it make this movie a triumph.

Beautiful, Nostalgic and Healing

[lincoln-15 · 10/10 · 6 April 2023]

This review does NOT contain spoilers.

I was able to see this beautiful film at the Alliance Française French Film Festival in Australia. Based on the book "Arrête avec tes Mensonges," it was exceptional in so many ways. It was one of those films that leave the audience lingering afterwards to discuss it with complete strangers. For me it was the best film in the entire film festival.

The film was magical on so many levels, from the first scene to the last. The storyline, scenery, set locations, dialogue, acting, film editing, and striking soundtrack all worked together to create something very special. The performance from every actor was impressive. Two actors in particular stood out. Guilaine Londez, delivered a perfect performance in the finest detail. The real stunner was Victor Belmondo who lit up every scene he was in. His performance was tender, human and flawless. An amazing actor.

This movie explores the special significance of first love, coming of age, and the memories they create that last a lifetime. It was also a wonderful example of how we relate to another person who was unknown to us yet deeply loved the same person that we ourselves have loved. The common ground that two people have when they have both independently loved a third is thoughtfully explored.

If you love beautiful and deeply meaningful movies - this one should not be missed. It is really something special. Regardless of who or what you are, this film will stir up emotions you had forgotten you even had. I highly recommend this rare and special film.

An inspiring devine story of time-surpassing love

[charlottebegayy · 10/10 · 23 August 2023]

Lie With Me is a complex story of human character and life in all forms, told by a skillful artist with simple brush strokes. This film explores first love, lust, grief, sexuality and society in a natural and organic way, taking you along two opposite lives ending up in two opposite places. Yet, as everything in life, they're tightly intertwined. One does not exist without the other.

Lie With Me feels fresh because it doesn't single out coming out nor struggles of a same-sex relationship, instead focusing on the entire lives of two people in love, and showing how vastly different they may be. It is not a typical story of grief, which made it even more special. There's great chemistry between Stéphane and the son of his lover - they're pulled to each other for their own personal reasons and having come full circle, provide each other with closure and long lost answers.

I think everyone should watch this movie, because it's a story of life - perfect, flawed and beautiful.

I most liked the message behind Lie With Me: to be authentic, daring and live your truth. You're making the world a better place by being You.

personal

[Kirpianuscus · 21 April 2024]

I liked the novel and its adaptation was more than a beautiful surprise. First , because the book offers raisons of non adaptation. It seems the story of intense youth , very personal for viewer , who can be only discovered, page by page , as personal in some measure.

But the film has the gift to represent more than an inspired adaptation.

First, it is the merit of actors, offering a profound seductive experience.

Second, the virtue of script.

Not the last, the feeling of dialogue and precise definition of states , vulnerability.

A famous writer returns to the homeplace. The son of his love from high school is one of his hosts , in kind way. And the past, near the missing periods are one.

In short , a film for who is very easy - and fair to just grateful.

Lie With Me

[CinemaSerf · 7/10 · 24 August 2023]

Writer Stéphane Belcourt (Guillaume de Tonquédoc) has been suffering from a bit of a creative block when he agrees to return to his childhood home to do a presentation for it's legendary cognac producer. Somewhat disinterested in the whole affair he is greeted by the effusive "Gaëlle" (an increasingly scene-stealing Guiliane Londez) who races around ferrying him from pillar to post in quite a frenetic fashion. Quite by chance, there are some visiting Americans at the vineyard and they are being guided by "Lucas" (Victor Belmondo). The latter man has a surname that triggers memories in the former and now we are taken on a parallel tracked story that illustrates forbidden (first) love from 1984, and offers a shot at redemption for both the younger and the older man. The story is gently paced and the acting - especially from Jérémy Gillet as the author in his younger years - is really quite potent. The story of bigotry and conformity - and the lifelong ramifications for all concerned of fear and shame is played out stylishly and set against a backdrop of conflicted history. A community that lives it's life largely as it makes it's luxury "elixir" - in a time honoured fashion - finds that perhaps the best from that time has now passed. As I watched, I couldn't help wonder just how many people actually lived their lives like this - stuck with an opportunity-free rural existence amongst a gene pool of relationships that was never going to satisfy those more creative, imaginative and , of course, gay who emerged! This is well worth a watch - and Belmondo is a dead ringer for his grand-father too!

A crushing tale of a life lost to shame

[solidoli · 9/10 · 20 August 2023]

What can I say. This film killed me.

A beautiful depiction of the (typically) male experience of suffering in silence, privately, keeping all one's problems to oneself. The loneliness and strange nobility of this.

The audience is laid to waste by the 17 year old Thomas' haunting confession that he knew already that he would never experience a happiness like this again; that his life was - in a very real sense - already ending.

Thomas' whole character is cast in a new devastating light. Our previous impression of a boy enjoying the first heady, blossoming of adolescent love is shattered. We see anew. He was really a tortured soul. On the one hand feeling the vitality and intensity of a first love, while shattering under the weight of the knowledge that this brief moment of dreaming and life and love was inevitably, awfully his last.

Stephane's photo at the lake is given a terrible poignancy, as we suddenly see through to this brooding troubled soul, mourning the loss of life, happiness and love in his final moments with Stephane.

-----

What I think was most clever about this film was how it slowly shifted the audiences focus from the on screen lead (Stephane), to the offscreen life of his lover. From the spurned lover to the more tragic life of his spurner. We gradually realise that the real story, the real tragedy is not the lost love of Stephane, but the lost life of Thomas.

Unbearably the sadness of a life spent in shackles, in inhibition, in the repression of dreams, hits us. We see terribly how the external social realities proved insurmountable to the individual human spirit. A life crushed by responsibility to family and by shame about oneself.

We realise that Thomas was the one truly imprisoned. His 17th year was a brief soaring flight into life and love, before the crushing into line by the world.

Simply stunning

[JeanFlores-Dickens · 10/10 · 30 September 2023]

I went into this film not knowing it is based in a book, which I have no idea how the book is, however I must say this movie is simply stunning, everything about it is just gorgeous. The acting, the place where it is set. The story. Some scenes I had tears in my eyes and I am not a person who cries in movies but this one deeply touched me.

Pros.

1. The story is just so captivating and stunning, get ready for wet eyes.

2. The acting is simply superb, some interactions are truly amazing.

3. The leads specially Guillaume and Victor.

Cons.

I believe this is the first time I have absolutely nothing to remark about a film.

Enjoy the movie,!!!

Hits Close to Home

[donaldewilliamson · 10/10 · 24 December 2023]

I agree the English translation (subtitles) are not perfect and are not as good as the book. The French dialogue is actually better. That said, as someone who played one of those roles in real life, and as someone with far too many friends from that era/generation who also played out one of those roles in their lives, this movie is poignant, painful, and sad, as well as happy, hopeful and healing. I think it is an awesome movie that made me laugh and cry as I could so easily draw parallels to my own life. I highly recommend it to guys who grew up in that time, as well as to younger guys who may not understand what many of us went through back then.

For any gay man who married a woman, or woman who married a gay man (feel free to swap out genders as applicable), this movie could help understanding. It's emotional and beautifully acted and directed.

Obviously, this movie means a lot to me and I truly love it. It is very near the top (if not THE top) of my list of all time favorite movies, and I cannot wait until it is available for purchase in the US so I can add it to my permanent collection!

Please see this movie and enjoy it!

4,7/10

[drarzudogru · 5/10 · 9 September 2023]

When I read Philippe Beson's book, I really, really liked it, and when I sat down to watch the movie, I was just as excited, but when the movie ended and I stood up, all I felt was disappointment. The dialog was very shallow. Watching dialogues on the screen that you would never use in normal life and that you would never use in normal life cools you off from the movie. I wished the script had been faithful to the original book. The movie just couldn't pull me in. Maybe because you use your own imagination while reading the book. The movie did not give me the same excitement. The acting was not bad. But for the directorial success, I think it could have been better.

What a surprise!

[Glifada · 10/10 · 9 November 2023]

This is the 100% perfect movie!

Everything in it is as it should be: an interesting life story that carries an important and emotional message, wise direction, excellent actors (even episodic ones such as Jérémy Gilles or Guillain Londez), fine French landscapes and discreet music, amazing cinematography, feelings and the aroma of nostalgia delivered in a very subtle way... Many of us have similar ghosts of the past and that is why the film especially affects older viewers. However, to really immerse yourself in this fantastic film, you need to watch it more than once. Only then will you be able to enjoy so many nuanced details that abound in this film making it truly unforgettable! 10/10.

Impressive, sensitive and deeply moving

[johannes2000-1 · 10/10 · 21 March 2024]

Some years ago I read Philippe Besson's book, and thought it a bit too sentimental, on the brink of larmoyant. But this movie-adaptation is excellent, it doesn't thrive on emotional effects, but tells the story in a very sensitive, almost restrained way, making it all the more poignant. It's intelligently done, the present alternating with flashbacks, and the harsh truth very gradually, with every new scene, dawning on main character Stephane.

The nostalgic atmosphere is wonderful, the 80's setting in the flash backs are convincingly done, and both young actors Jérémy Gillet and Julien de Saint Jean do a fine job. But the stars of this movie are Guillaume de Tonquédec as the middle-aged writer Stephane, who comes back to his hometown to evoke the memories of his first great love, that back then so mysteriously dead-ended; and Victor Belmondo as Lucas, who lives with a distorted memory of his father and now finally gets to see him in a very different light. Both actors are totally convincing, and the way they play the pivotal scene, in which Stephane holds a long impromptu speech for a posh gathering, but in fact for the sake of Lucas and the memory of his dead father, is deeply moving.

The point that is made here is comparable with that in Brokeback Mountain: how the shame and fear of showing your true (gay) self to the world can poison and waste a whole life. It's so true, and unfortunately still as relevant as ever.

Not One Flaw

[jromanbaker · 10/10 · 9 April 2024]

I could not find one flaw in this film. How is it that the French have made so many masterly films revolving around homosexuality ? And in a way that is truly adult and involving ? ' Theo and Hugo ' ' Sauvage ' ' Presque Rien ' and believe me the list could go on. I just hope in our troubled times films of such quality will not dry up. But to return to ' Arrete Toi Avec Tes Mensonges ' ( why didn't they just call it ' Stop Your Lies ? ) I have admired Philippe Bresson's books for a long time, and it has taken me a while to dare approach this film based on his book. I feared disappointment. Autobiographical it tells the truth, and it is basically about an elderly man's return to a provincial French town that he came from. And here the present and the past faultlessly interweave. At the age of 17 he fell in love with a youth of his age group who could not truly admit to his sexual orientation. Life parts them, and society and its prejudices and internalised homophobia has a large responsibility for that, and in the 1980's there was a lot of homophobia around. No spoilers except to say the elderly man finds out what has truly happened to the youth he loved, and still does. The film itself is finely directed and I cannot single out one of the cast above another. In my opinion a faultless cast in a faultless film. I cried. I cried seeing how much people have to lie to themselves, and are they cowards to do so ? The end of the film gives an answer to this and I wholly endorsed the ending. A film everyone should see.