YOU’LL GET OVER IT (Tu Verras, Ca Te Passeras) (À cause d’un garçon) TV
(director: Fabrice Cazeneuve; screenwriter: Vincent Molina; cinematographer: Stephan Massis; editor: Jean-Pierre Bloc; music: Michel Portal; cast: Julien Baumgartner (Vincent Molina), Julia Maraval (Noémie), François Comar (Stéphane), Jérémie Elkaïm (Benjamin), Patrick Bonnel (Bernard, the father), Christiane Millet (Sylvie, the mother), Antoine Michel (Régis, the brother), Nils Ohlund (Bruno), Bernard Blancan (L’entraîneur de natation), Eric Bonicatto (Le prof de français), Vincent Nemeth (Conseiller d’éducation), Blandine Pelissier (La secrétaire du conseiller); Runtime: 86; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Herve Chablier/Claude Chelli /Christophe Chevallier; Picture This! Entertainment Home Video; 2002-France-in French with English subtitles)
“Couldn’t be more honest or compassionate in depicting the handsome sensitive teenager’s coming out story.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Picture This! Entertainment was launched at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival as the first motion picture company dedicated to the worldwide licensing of quality films of interest to the gay, lesbian and bisexual audience. This is the same movie company that presented the critically acclaimed “Come Undone,” a drama with the similar theme of You’ll Get Over It — a coming-of-age first love story about a sensitive teenager coming out of the closet. Both films are brilliantly handled and feature attractive casts who give convincing performances.
Acclaimed TV and film director Fabrice Cazeneuve’s (“Un Fils de Notre Temps”/”La Dette”/”The King of China”) comedy drama was made for French TV, where it first aired. It is a study of the 17-year-old Vincent Molina (Julien Baumgartner), a popular and excellent high school student who is dating a pretty girl named Noémie (Julia Maraval) who absolutely adores him. Vincent Molina penned the autobiographical script that has a lot to say about a gay teenager that needs to be said but is rarely said in such a sensible and intelligent way.
Vincent is the student role model for the unnamed suburban school located some 40 minutes from Paris. He is a champion swimmer vying for an an athletic scholarship to college. His doting working-class parents, his teachers, and his swimming coach greatly admire him. But he’s living a lie by not telling anyone he’s gay. His secretly gay French literature teacher explores in class the literary theme of someone losing their way in an alley and not being able to find their way out, which parallels the trap that has ensnared Vincent in his personal life.
Things radically change after a weekend when Vincent makes love to his virgin girlfriend Noémie while at the house of his best friend and fellow swimming team member Stéphane (François Comar). Noémie is not satisfied that Vincent ignores her afterwards and questions him as to why. It soon becomes apparent that Vincent prefers the company ofBenjamin (Jérémie Elkaïm, “Come Undone”), a mysterious new student who is always cruising him. Benjamin has instantly figured out that Vincent is gay and lets him know that he’s aware. After Vincent takes Benjamin to his roomand kisses him, the two are spotted leaving together by homophobic classmates.
At school “Molina is a fag” is spray painted on the wall of the main hallway, and word of this revelation spreads throughout the school. His befuddled parents are told of this in a spiteful way by his angry thuggish older brother Régis (Antoine Michel), who begrudges Vincent for being the family favorite. Not knowing what to say to Vincent, the father (Patrick Bonnel) hopes it’s just a passing phase. The swimming team harasses and ostracizes him, and Noémie is angry with him for not telling her he is gay before she slept with him. The straight Stéphane is upset that he was deceived, but wishes to continue the friendship–though their friendship undergoes some dramatic changes. The school offers little help, but finally the administration convinces the swimming coach to talk to him. His inspirational talk helps Vincent to continue swimming for the team.
There are several brilliant scenes that show the concerns the innocent Vincent has in dealing with being openly gay in such a hostile environment, and how isolated and threatened he feels. The film couldn’t be more honest or compassionate in depicting the handsome sensitive teenager’s coming out story. Its theme is universal and could easily be applied to others not gay who are alienated from society and have difficulty fitting into the usual high school scene.
REVIEWED ON 4/17/2004 GRADE: A- https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/