Una nuova amica

The first film I saw which had a transvestite character was The Damned, some 50 years ago. In the intervening years we've had any number of accounts of a man (why almost always a man?) who has to dress as a woman. Ozon's film has a stale air about it which works against our enjoyment.

For me Anais Demoustier is the sole strong actor in this; Duris and Personnaz give capable support but she must carry the story, and carry it she does very memorably. The feeling is always that punches are being pulled, that possibly painful moments are being glossed over. I expected more anger from Personnaz's character when he discovered the deception (the weekend in the country with Duris, instead of the mother's house). Everybody is so well behaved, it doesn't ring true. La Cage aux Folles had more sting to it, you knew how bigoted some people were.

I haven't really enjoyed an Ozon film since 8 femmes of 2002. He's coasting, giving us tried and true subjects and clichéd situations.

i am surprised to see negative reviews on this film. 1 star? I wonder what could have been so bad in the movie to deserve 1 star...

The first 20 minutes of the film are rather dull but as the film develops, the mystery unveils and the clichés disappear. Isild Le Besco (Laura) is fairly bad which is why the movie is so difficult to watch in the beginning, unfortunately.

Roman Duris (David) and Anais Demoustier (Claire) are excellent together. I could feel every line, every movement, every thought.

I felt deeply overwhelmed when the film ended. The trailer is perfect, as it doesn't reveal too much. Please do not read reviews of the movie with spoilers, you will certainly lose the surprise effect of the plot.

9/10

9 stars because of the beginning, otherwise WELL DONE Francois Ozon!

This film is better than it sounded when I read the synopsis in the guide. It's not overly salacious or politically correct but it does put another nail in the coffin for boring white straight guys. It's a story about grief perhaps but it seems to celebrate people accepting who they are even if that's a little left of Centre, like cross dressing. The lead actress is fantastic at her role. It's a meaty premise, lightly handled with French charm. You don't have to be a rainbow warrior to enjoy it. Sure it's a little too neatly wrapped up, but it's like a little pomegranate in your salad. It kinda wakes you up.

each theme and solution, scene and flavor, cliché and provocation from the Francois Ozon 's circle is present in The New Girlfriend. the game/joke skin of story, the seductive song, the gay sparkles. result - a kind of comedy. because , and it is not a really surprise, the director presents a large scene without precise direction. and that spring story has the sin to not explore, in the fair manner, the potential of story, the art of actors - Romain Duris is better than the ambiguous sketch from movie and Raphael Personnaz is not only the gray-shadow man . but, sure, for the fans of Ozon, the film could be a delight.

Sometimes, the less you know about a film, the more you are likely to enjoy it. This is one of those times. All I really knew about the movie was that it was French and appreciated by public and critics alike. That was enough for me and ensured that the surprises really were surprises.

You need to know more? OK, the film is based on a 1985 short Story by Ruth Rendell and the directed by François Ozon ("Potiche"). What? You want more? The core of the film is the relationship between characters - the husband and best friend of the recently deceased Laura - ably acted by Romain Duris and Anaïs Demoustier.

Oh, gosh. You want to know what it's about? Let's just say that it's an amusingly serious - if this is not too oxymoronic - examination of sexual identity. And that really is all I'm going to tell you about this enjoyable movie. Now see it for yourself.

PS 1 Why are there so few reviews of this interesting film on IMDb?

PS 2 Why do the IMDb reviews of this film give away so many plot spoilers?