Blue Citrus Hearts

One can't watch this film without the gut feeling that it's a story the writer had to tell. Absent any melodramatic flourishes and self-consciously arty touches or sub-plots, it tells a familiar story with such honesty and immediacy that it's as if you are living among Sam, Julien, their families, and friends. Through the poetry of their inarticulateness and the lack of any artifice both Sam and Julian are iconic: Sam, the popular high school kid who only appears to fit in with his crowd and Julian, the outsider who comes along to light up his life. The beauty of this film is its artistic economy. Unlike the long and embellished Hollywood novel, this is a poem in which every spare word and action communicates much more than pages of explanatory chat.

I rented this movie yesterday at Blockbuster's thinking that it would be something special to see. Boy, was I ever disappointed! The only thing good about this movie was the basic story line--which unfortunately was destroyed by a terribly script, extremely poor acting, and an unbearable sound tract. It appeared that someone working on the film knew the script and acting were so bad that they were trying to drown it out with background noise and music. The acting was very amateurish--and the very long bit at the end telling that 'this is for boys who love boys--this is for girls who love girls, etc., etc' stank. If this was the winning film at the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Film festival, I'd certainly hate to see the losers.

Blue Citrus Hearts is a compelling independent film. The filmmakers should be applauded for the film they have brought us all. The film follows real people and very real situations not actors with scripted lines. The performances were out standing as they were not contrived and very true to life today. This is one of the most incredible love stories I have ever seen. The film was obviously shot on a no budget digital film making process that really pays off. I love and adore this film, it has soul and love within its making. The music is incredible as well and fits very nicely with this piece. I was surprised to rent it at my video store not knowing what it was but loving every minute of it as it was shot in real time with real people climaxing to a very awakening of and ending. I hope there will be more of these type of films made in the future. This is not a studio film, this is a hard-core independent film venture and it should be applauded. Congrats to everyone who made this film happen, you shocked and surprised me and made me feel something real, wow. Peace and love back at you all. Keep it up.James Vallo USA

This theme is a passionate one for me having gone through this in my life. I applaud the writers directors and cast for this amazing film. I truly was moved deeply. I cried during the last scene. So powerful. At times the acting was so realistic it seemed more like a documentary or reality TV show. I felt in every moment the intensity of Sam's hatred for his dad and for his mom's co dependency. I so know how it is to have a mask girlfriend who wants to be loved so desperately. This movie can be so inspiring for other gay and lesbian youth who feel so weak to empower then to be authentic in their lives. How amazing is it to think you walk alone and then find that in truth you have someone who loves you. That part was the most amazing to me.

This Movie brought with it an experience and surprise I was not expecting when first sitting down to watch it, the title itself certainly gave no clue as to what was about to be experienced (at least by this viewer), just another yawn, gay themed, movie.

W H O A - I have no idea now what it was I was expecting, but in no way was I expecting to view a piece of work which was to affect me with such an intensity of emotion as did "Blue Citrus Hearts' As mentioned in a couple of other comments, the use of style (Home Movie) and of non-Hollywood actors alone made this a unique viewing experience. As we progressed through the movie I became so involved with the realities of the characters, it was almost voyeuristic.

This is the only movie I have ever seen which so closely portrays, almost exactly, the anguish, despair and emotional turmoil that I went through as a young teenage male growing up in the 60's in a small town (500 people) in Eastern Canada with no idea there were any others in the entire world who shared the terrible secret that was mine, not having any clue whatever that it was, in fact, totally normal.

In my mind I was a terrible and sick person to have the thoughts I had, of wanting to get to know my male friends in the way I wanted, to dream of having the gorgeous boy down the street actually love me..........

No one in those days, to my knowledge, suspected "my horrible secret", so I was never subjected to the bullying and taunting that others have gone through. Looking back my Mother & Father, deprived of any knowledge of what was "wrong" with me, were as supportive as they could through this time frame, (Mother's always know), but The loneliness, isolation and anguish I went through.....

Other Boys & Girls could share their thoughts and feeling about their attractions, dreams and wishes between themselves, with parents, siblings, I could not, I could barely come to terms with those things in me, myself... I had not one soul in whom I could confide to whom I could turn to ask advice.........

I was so enthralled throughout this move with how this so closely resembled that time for me, that the ending sneaked up on me. I was totally unprepared for the intensity of emotion that swept over me as those two boys ..... that something was about to happen to me.... and I began to sob like I have not done since I was 13 to 18, so many lonely days, evenings, nights ago when I was growing up, a young "HOMO" in a small town.

I would dearly love to be able to personally thank and congratulate all those who had a hand in making this marvelous experience possible. They deserve a mountain of credit and wish each and every one success as they move forward with their own lives.

Love being hit this hard in the emotional basket :_)