SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

SpecialsTarget Disturbing yet enthralling

Breakinger A Brilliant Conflict

Cassandra Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Robert J. Maxwell It's a little hard to imagine some ordinary straight guy sitting before the TV screen, can of beer in one hand, trying to make any sense out of this unusual movie that can be transduced into something resembling appreciation.Nope. It's a movie made by women for women. The guy with the beer is going to sit there and suffer through the soft seaside breezes of Baycliffe, the glow of candle flames, the sensuous molding of a writhing and naked body, the absent dialog that has been replaced by poetry good and mediocre, the growing affection between two women (one of whom dresses like George Sand and even looks a little like her), the lush romantic music, the stunning but fuzzy photography, the slow motion shot of the two women riding horses along the beach -- and he's thinking, "What about the DILDOS?" And, "When do we bring in the STABLE BOY?" No such luck, dude. Two women in 1888 fall in love, spend a an ecstatic night or two together, and one leaves sadly.There's nothing vulgar about it. It doesn't approach the banal debasement of the human figure that you can watch on a hard-core DVD, all glossy glabrous surfaces and globular dugs. It's about lesbian love, of which sex is merely a part. I know this because, though I'm a straight male, I had sat through the Human Sexuality Training Program at Berkeley. I have seen elephants at work, never mind lesbians. The world today is filled with hysteria and tumult and, trust me, I'd take tribadism over tribalism any day.It's not my kind of movie, but I give the production team extra points for (1) trying something that will appeal to such a limited audience, and (2) apparently having so much fun while making the movie. The credits and acknowledgments at the end are almost as long as the rest of the film. As at the end of "Citizen Kane" we get to see the team joking around while at work. Only one man appears, an "honorary lesbian." It takes a certain amount of courage to put out a movie like this. How many movies can you think of that have no substantial story and no dialog? Not counting Andy Warhol? And it has its felicities. If you thought the chess match between Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen in "The Thomas Crown Affair" was hot, you ought to see these pale and delicate fingertips pick up an over-sized horse's head from the board. Speaking of horses, why do all women love horses so much? Once, wondering whether any research beyond Freudian fantasies had gone on, I Googled "women and horses" and wound up at this bizarre web site in Brazil which, while entertaining in its own way, explained nothing.I didn't care for the poetry too much either. Didn't mind Byron. Always like Byron. And the rest might have looked better in print. It was all new to me and when I hear something like, "Yea, verily, I have been faithful to thee -- in my fashion," I don't think of liquid love. I think of Cole Porter or Danny Kaye.Anyway, applause for the team for having the chutzpah and the energy to turn out something that was almost certain to be a commercial catastrophe. Tribadism Forever!

charcoalRed Criticism first: I did not know what to expect as I was given the DVD, so I was a bit run over, foremost by the fact that it was only 40 mins long. Being a photographer/writer myself I am maybe even too critical. The idea was/is brilliant and timeless, BUT: it would have deserved a better quality (meaning the film material), much better editing (a lot is lost with sudden cuts, music bisected etc), better tuning of voices & soundtrack so the 2 do not destroy one another. I was pretty irritated by the soundtrack at first because it was simply too loud over the voice-overs. The Praise: as said above, the idea is fantastic. The poetry used is delicious, and even Conn's own is very good, seamlessly interspersed with Byron and Dowson: A-plus. The costumes were beautiful, a lot of variety in so short a feature, detailed perfectly down to the jewellery of the period. Have a look at all the jackets/cravats on Hellman and the dresses on Nemeth. The cast! I have never before seen 2 such beautiful women paired in a film. On the one hand we have Nemeth's utterly feminine beauty, full curves, delicate face, all so befitting for the role she plays. On the other, we have Hellman's sculpted, lean, muscular perfection, crowned by her face. Unfairly to Nemeth, someone so stunning she would put Greek Gods to shame. Together, a perfect pairing for the girly heroine and the Byronic hero. Dreamy. Chemistry enough.The scenes: Conn obviously wanted to fulfill as many fantasies as she could get into under 40 mins. Again, the idea with the clay and the whole b&w vision is brilliant, as is the quoting of the poetry. Horseriding on a beach, already great: seeing Hellman ride, greater! (She could ride; kudos to Nemeth's horse, because she couldn't - mine would have trampled her) Seeing both together barebacked on one horse, what more could anyone ask (Isn't that also a male fantasy?). The chess scenes, fountain etc are also nice; another great scene is the "dream" scene on the revolving stand (ahem: it would have been so much better if that one had rotated smoothly and if it had been cut so one does NOT see what it is) Again, undoing of tight stays & corset is about as Victorian fantasy fulfilled as there is. Another thumbs up. I would have found it more romantic/realistic if they had actually undressed each other instead of a cut from fully clothed to shedding a morning robe fully naked. Hm. The love scene was especially in the beginning more sweet than arousing, I found the choreography a bit off. Too artistic there, maybe. Due to the fact that they later inter-cut several different scenes and patched like a quilt, it lacks a bit of flow, continuity. Some awesome material there, though. Brownie points for being looong. However one would think that, having some very explicit scenes where it does not feature, they could have done without the blanket between them in the tamer ones. Soundtrack: takes some getting used to, but if you give it a chance you will discover it was, like the rest of the film, lovingly written and performed, with a very good tune. The poetry: Conn obviously is a fan of Byron, choosing some of his most famous poems, She Walks In Beauty, The First Kiss of Love, and Maid of Athens. Dowson's more tormented Sub Regno Cynarae to complement this works beautifully. Conn's own Naked Heart manages to capture the sentiment of the period nicely (made me think of anatomical lessons in whitewashed medical theatres, hm)I didn't want to descend to pure fandom, but I thought what MAKES this film literally is Melissa Hellman. She manages to carry off cross dressing as something enhancing beauty, not awkwardness. If I am not mistaken it is her voice we hear re-awakening lines from Byron and Dowson, making them shine again. It is her whom we see as the B&W (almost stills) vision of Cynara while she sculpts. The riding I already mentioned. Simply a breathtaking presence on screen. Finally, this would have deserved to be a full feature film with more dialogue and a bit more plot. As a love token to someone as Conn intended it I guess, it is perfect (what did you get on your last b-day??) For being done in 1996 it was a milestone and there is still nothing that could compare. Before you see this, take the time to have a romantic candle-light dinner with someone special first, read up on Byron, on the 19th century, buy some roses and get into the mood. Watch it twice so you get over the flaws you'll notice the first time. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. I wish they'd do a sequel, preferably with the same cast if still available.

mbritian Way to pretentious,not enough story to care about the characters.The pace was very slow and actually not much really happens in this film. Scenes are frequently reused also After about 10 minutes going into this film I knew this was going to be dull.Image seems to more important than substance. One also have to wonder why the movie is set in the 19th century, because the overall affect and camera work would not lead you to think so. You really don't get that feel in this movie Also the love scene was unnecessary long and explicit. It was like watching a pretentious soft core skinamax film. If I had to choose between revealing sex and good characterization I would choose character and plot, which this film was lacking in both character and plot. Very Borrrrinnng.

salingland If you are into romance that leaves you breathless, this is the movie for you. The two lead actresses Johanna Nemeth and Melissa Hellman are a delight to behold. The two of them have a chemistry on stage that is undeniable. The scenes leave you on the edge of your seats waiting for the next moment.Two woman come together in a time when being a lesbian was not talked about. The time is 1883, the women meet at a isolated inn on the ocean. They begin a friendship that includes lovely scenes of horseback riding on the beach, and quiet times together playing chess. There are scenes where each of them has a fantasy about the other that are so erotic that it leaves you undeniably aroused.I have had to buy 3 tapes of this movie because I will never tire of watching the love scenes that truly portray what love between two woman can be.... sensual, soft, erotic, sexy and over the top.Is this movie worth buying... yes a thousand times yes... it is the most erotic love story of two woman I have ever seen... except in real life (wink) ;-) Buy it you wont be disappointed... I can not wait for Nicole Conn's next venture... and if she needs any help we are so there....