User reviews

The most shocking thing about this French 'coming out' story is that it was made for television! In the States, this kind of film would turn out like an 'after school special' crossed with a movie of the week (with Jane Seymour as one of the mothers). But this is an incredibly intelligent film from start to finish. Beautifully scripted, carefully directed, perfectly cast and exquisitely performed. From the idyllic opening scene to the penultimate scene of familial healing, this is one film that defies stereotyping. The two leading men turn in sensitive, honest, riveting performances. The woman who play their mothers are also quite extraordinary. There is also a standout performance by the actress playing Laurent's best friend Carole. Whenever I felt the script might veer toward the cliché, it managed to balance itself with a moment of pure honesty. Laurent's father and uncle, for example, confide in the opening scene that two men having an intimate relationship makes them sick and that they feel justified in turning their back on any gay family member. The screenwriters counter this neatly with Emma, a mother who has come to terms with her gay son, and hopes to help Laurent's parents to a similar understanding. The older (hetero) men certainly look like clichés at first, but are fleshed out to the point of possible redemption by film's fade out. JUST A QUESTION OF LOVE is perhaps the best film on this subject I've ever seen.

This powerful, humane, intelligent drama was made by, and appeared in prime time on, France 2. It received just three letters of protest along with thousands praising its astonishing young actors and their memorable story. Try to imagine such a positive, thoughtful film on American broadcast television; one simply about the impassioned relationship between two men. No one gets sick, beaten up, or dies. It's just a question of love.

Cyrille Thouvenin (so wonderful in another must-see, Confusion of Genders) stars as angry, frustrated, deeply-closeted Laurent. He is terrified to come out to his parents because they are so virulently homophobic. He witnessed his cousin's coming out: disowned, thrown out, and died without his family around him. Laurent lives in fear with his best friend Carole, who goes along with the fiction that she is his girlfriend for the benefit of his parents.

Then he meets Cedric (handsome and exceedingly sexy Stephan Guerin-Tillie), with whom Laurent has a college internship. After a rather combative start (neither young man is particularly adept at 'making friends'), sparks fly, and the two revel in a joyous fling as they discover love. The heat, happiness, and fervor they project is palpable, gratifying, and genuine.

The problem is that Cedric is up front about his sexuality and makes a huge deal about Laurent coming out; Laurent is truculent, defiant, and refuses to consider it. Carole is tired of the charade and has a love of her own to nurture. Everyone wants Laurent out, but he is immobilized. When Cedric's mother impulsively let's the cat out of the bag, Cedric and Laurent's private world falls apart. How they, their parents and friends, deal with the consequences forms the crux of the illuminating story.

This transcends being just another 'gay' film. It is about learning how to love. Gay, straight, old or young, all must learn. As for Laurent and Cedric, rarely has a simple "I love you" been uttered with more poignancy on film.

Very impressive, well done. All the actors, actresses were very good at doing their parts.

There is one mistake that I found. I thought that whoever did the make up did an excellent job, especially on Laurent's mother Jeanne. She was so radiant when she was visiting her son, then she became so old after she learned that her son is gay. So after I finished watching the show, (I am surprised that it is not a movie.) I watched that chapter again. To my surprise, her hair was up when she was standing at the door. Then later on, when she was relaxed in the room, all of sudden, her hair was down again.

Everyone looks so natural, it doesn't seem as if they were acting. It is as if they were really people with real problems. I also like Cedric's mother - Emma, she reminds of someone that I know, very elegant.

This story is well written, it is not predictable as you watch from the beginning. And it seems that it could be just anyone's problem, whether it happened in France or in the US. There will always be parents like them, and sons like those two. And that is what is so great about this TV show, real life like story. well done!

Laurent (a vibrant Cyrille Thouvenin) is a 23-year-old agricultural student in Lille (with a passion for poetry) who knows he's gay but lets his parents think he's straight and that his roommate Carole (a sweet Caroline Veyt) is his future wife. He's held in this bind by the fact that a gay cousin, Marc, who was like a brother to him, came out only to wind up dying rejected by his parents, an example of in-family homophobia that seems to have been all too well accepted by his own mother and father. Laurent has been on a downward spiral in school ever since Marc's death. Marc's parents are around at family parties, the mother a basket case on tranquilizers, the father stolid and still unforgiving. This angers Laurent, but the trouble is that his mom and dad, who run a pharmacy, are very dear to him. He loves his parents; he loves family; and he loves kids. But he's stuck in a charade. It's already hurting Carole, who's more than a little in love with him, though she knows full well about his sexuality.

All this has to change when Laurent is attached as a trainee (stagère) to a nursery and lab run by the slightly older Cédric (sexy, soulful Stéphan Guérin-Tillié) and they fall in love.The more grown up and independent Cédric is impatient with Laurent's playing the "little hetero to mom and dad." When he came out to his mother Emma (Eva Darlan) 11 years earlier on the death of his dad, Cédric said she could "take it or leave it." Laurent's pretense is exploded from an unexpected source. The film takes us sympathetically through the pain of Laurent's parents and Emma's efforts to help.

The special virtue of Just a Question of Love is its balance. If it's primarily from the point of view of Laurent, and secondarily Cédric, and takes pains (though it's joyful, not painful) to make their love real (without any explicit nudity or sex though, just passionate kissing), it's just as much about the parents' difficult journey toward understanding of their sons' sexuality.

A beautiful gay coming-out-to-the-parents film that had an unusually high viewership and almost universally positive response when shown originally on French TV, this has meant a lot to a lot of gay men, especially young ones thinking about love and conflicts with parents and the kind of "intense love relationship such as I dream of having and regret not to have had up till now," as one young French blogger typically put it. In IMDb comments that rate it, it has gotten nothing but a 10/10: enough said? Splendid performances by everybody, especially Thouvenin, Guérin-Tillié, and Darlan; this is far more than a "TV movie" and like some of the best contemporary French films, manages to be both elegant and emotionally direct.

With his looks and personality, Cyrille Thouvenin is irresistible in the film: he's always running and leaping, troubled, acting out, but also bursting with youthful energy and smiles. The restrained but warm Eva Darlan is also very memorable. This is the kind of film a gay man can watch over and over, with much pleasure and some tears. Doing so is also helping my French quite a bit.

'Juste une question d'amour' is a small film made for French TV that is one of the most sensitive, unbiased examinations of how the 'coming out' of gay men impacts not only the one who bravely steps forward but also his friends both male and female and his family. So often films such as this fall under the title 'Queer Cinema' and that is as unfair to the audience as it is to the writer and director of the film. This film is meant for the general public and should it receive higher profile in publicity, many longstanding prejudices would at least have the chance to be questioned by both gays and straights.

Laurent (Cyrille Thouvenin) lives with his parents Jeanne (Danièle Denie) and Pierre (Idwig Stephane) behind the family Pharmacy. Laurent is secretly gay though he lives with his best girlfriend Carole (Caroline Veyt) who adores him and wholly accepts his sexuality and is content to serve as a 'front' for Laurent's closeted role with his parents. He is not doing well studying agriculture, primarily due to the fact the his close cousin Marc died recently and had been disowned by his aunt and uncle when he announced he was gay. Laurent can only see that he must keep his secret so that his parents (whom he loves deeply) will not be 'injured' by his admitting his sexuality. His marks in school are so poor that he is instructed to do an internship in field agriculture to raise his academic standing. His assigned tutor is Cédric (Stéphan Guérin-Tillié) who lives an openly gay life with his warmly understanding and loving mother Emma (Eva Darlan) in an idyllic garden setting that also serves as Cédric's agricultural research lab.

Though instantly attracted to each other, Laurent maintains his closeted life until Cédric reveals his affection: the two become happy, passionate lovers. All goes well until Cédric insists that Laurent be in an open relationship, a state that would demand that Laurent inform his parents of his preferences. Laurent, fearful that his parents would disown him as his cousin was treated, flees and it is only after Cédric's mother Emma, a woman who loves the fact that her son is in a healthy relationship and longs for Laurent to allow his parents to love him for who truly he is, takes it upon herself to confront Laurent's parents with the truth. The manner in which this initial trauma affects each of the characters forms the platform for the resolution of the story.

This is a brave film, very intelligent and sensitive and informative, and is made all the better by the excellent cast. Each actor gives characterizations that are completely credible and three-dimensional: none of the too familiar stereotypes are here. It is to the credit of director Christian Faure and his co-writer Annick Larboulette that JUST A QUESTION OF LOVE succeeds on every level. This is one of the most quietly powerful stories about same sex challenges to be addressed on the screen. Highly Recommended for ALL audiences. In French with English subtitles. Grady Harp, May 05

This has to be one of the best films on gay love coming from France that I have ever seen. I am a French film aficionado and I was dismayed that as far as the story goes, there is rampant homophobia even in French families. But I guess we can't escape it no matter where we are or where we go in the world. I shouldn't have been angry at the disgust of some of the family members, even to the point of disowning their gay children! The father and uncle characters were irritating to say the least, but it's to be expected. This story is so real and hits home. The pain of coming out,or not is keenly felt by those of us who can identify with it. The performances were first class from the entire cast. Cyrille Thouvenin and Stephan Guerin Tillie were outstanding. One could almost believe they were lovers in real life. They were so natural and comfortable together. From beginning to end, I felt for both characters and sided with both on what they felt and feared. Especially Cyrille's character, Laurent. I wish we could get more gay love stories with substance. We need to see more positive stories on gay love and I hope that gay directors, producers and actors out there understand that. Most gay films tend to be negative and have the main characters die tragically, or the film is based entirely on homophobia and/or silly gay stereotypes. Even by gay producers/directors!! This is usually the case in "straight" mainstream films. We need more actors like Cyrille and Stephan to play roles with substance and be positive roles models. The film is in French with English subtitles. This is definitely a must see.

It was interesting to read the stats that 6.3 million viewers saw this film when first aired in prime time on French public network. Shown on prime time, the public and critical response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic.

Well, I concur.

This is a most meticulously produced film that far transcends the television medium. Christian Faure's direction is excellent and the leading actors, Cyrille Thouvenin and Stephan Guerin-Tille, are superb.

I have no negative criticism of this work, and only hope it will have the widest possible showing in regular movie houses. Too good to let lie unseen, it took five years from its making in 2000 to be released on DVD. Hopefully, this is only the beginning. Good work can't be kept a secret, and this is certainly one of the best-ever made-for-TV films.

Thoughts, At first I felt like this film was going to be of those other common young adult homosexual films with a lot of sexually explicit scenes. Not to mention, I've only got two years of French under my belt which enabled me to see the film in a different light. No matter, as I patiently sat through this film I started to grow an symbiotic affection for the characters and the problems they were dealing with. Nearing the end of the film, I found myself to be on the end of my chair pensively waiting on how the film will close which is something that I will keep unsaid for those who haven't had a chance to watch the film yet.

Plot Line, In my grand line-up of films that I've watched throughout my short span of life, this film has surely not ranked as a wage earner for the week. On account that I felt like the plot was being pushed onto me and there was a poor establishment of the characters and their lives. I also found the plot line to be one-sided which always kept me asking questions on what's going on in the scene. What I did admire was the Director's ability to thematically connect one scene to another, meaning his usage of one life event to fuel the other. For example, the phone call to Cedric's mother from Laurents' and their meeting at the local diner and then Laurent's mother leaving on the train with a lot of thoughts on mind.

Aesthetics, I felt that the Cinematographer could have really improved on the angles in which he captured some scenes. At times, I was squinting and even focusing so hard onto the film to see what was going on and who was in it that I was utterly let down when I took in too much for my own good. I would also recommend the use of more cuts and transitions in and throughout the scenes because it would allow the viewer to have more of a personal look on what certain characters were doing. In certain moments of the film, I felt like I was watching Rope by Alfred Hitchcock because of the camera pans.

Ultimately, I would advise all whom enjoy to watch films about homosexual adversity to watch this one. This film certainly brings in the component of love with the acting and empathy from the viewer on the events that take place throughout the story. A common theme that is widely seen in homosexual orientated orientated films, but surely something worth watching if you've got the time to spend.

Hope you Enjoy!

Being American, it is difficult watching subtitled foreign films. We have such a genre of films in this country as it is. It also makes someone stop multitasking to sit and read the script. It was a pleasure and an uplifting experience watching this movie. It is SO difficult coming to terms with being gay and seeing "sterityped" films with gays on drugs, whoring around, and eventually dying of AIDS. This is one of the few films that positively deals with love between two men and the difficulties that truly must be overcome. True love will make the most jaded, closeted gay person throw all cares and insecurities to the wind. I mean, whose life is it anyway??? What an uplift!! Please watch this movie!!

Excellent!

I cannot tell you, with any great insight, the lessons to be learned with this film or the messages it may send to those who do not (choose not to) 'understand' homosexuality. That's not to say they are not there, or that this film fails to make those connections because it does. It speaks for those mistreated, it makes clear the tragedies that come with this prejudice, and does so - in my opinion - without being preachy, or pointing angry fingers.

For me, it is simply a story of love. A love that proves to be so special, that the two main characters - Cedric and Laurent - are willing to make crucial decisions, and changes in their lives for its survival. It is these two men; with their boyish behaviors - the joking, teasing and name calling - and the easy way they are together, that make this film. Superbly acted, this is a story that you can believe in.

the plot is highly predictable, characters are one dimensional, then the story ends!

every character (except Laurent) in this story is so transparent and stolid you can guess their reactions far in advance. Laurent is so over the top in his self abusive emotional explosions i could not believe Cedric would become his lover. their attraction is not explained - it just happens. and the wooden parents of Laurent move like mannequins through the entire film.

the only believable character is Carole as she actually brings he character to life! and she is beautiful ! ! ! the Cedric character is for sure eye candy, but the Laurent character runs around in such bad attitude i just wondered whats the deal with him?

no --- i didn't care for the film.

It's got to be said that these 2 French actors (Thouvenin and Guerin-Tillie) have Chemistry. That's spelled with a capital "C"...(and, well, you just gotta make the "H", the "E", the "M" and all the rest of 'em, capital letters, too). Plus, as actors, these guys are not afraid to express their feelings by making that extra gesture of a passing touch or hand-on-arm (how often we don't see this from our American actors). There's a very striking feeling projected by this film that really makes you have to wonder: if these guys weren't already in love prior to filming, then surely mustn't they have become so during the process.......at least that's what their performances so vividly project to the audience. It's what one is left with after watching this film: THAT WAS REALLY LOVE! What greater mark of success could be asked for, or achieved, in setting a gay romance on film?

One other important point on their performances: while the actors portraying Laurent and Cedric can be so explosive in their expressiveness toward each other, they also make themselves such fun to be with (as a viewer you feel as if you're right there, actually sharing their fun, excitement and joy in discovering sex and love with each other). Make note of these things as you watch, and see if the old pulse-rate doesn't go up on more than one occasion......and your "chuckle-bone" will get a good workout as well. What it all boils down to is simply that seeing and experiencing their strongly expressed feelings for each other is worth a 1000 times the price of admission.

As a little bit of a postscript, this reviewer just has to add--Rarely has a movie title been more fitting and meaningful than this one's, especially as it is explained and demonstrated in the heartrending denouement which takes place between father and son in the final moments of the film. "Really," it tells us, "after everything else has come, been considered, and gone, all that's left and important is......just a question of love!"

As a final postscript--To say that this French director's work is award worthy, is the grossest of understatements.

SCENES TO WATCH OUT FOR:

--Don't miss this couple's first one-on-one in the agricultural lab which is to be their joint workplace: It's a first-meeting-and-feeling-each-other-out scene in which sparks fly---the tension between them fairly crackles.

--And one should definitely note: This pair's first post-coital scene is so full of satisfaction and obvious feelings for one another that those emotions practically jump off the screen. It's only topped, moments later, during a scene in which "Mom" walks in on the pair, unannounced----it's beyond priceless.

--Even more telling is the "water-fight" scene: You've never seen such fun and joy over being together expressed by a gay couple in any previous movie. No wonder this scene leads to the one which it does.

****

movies made in France aren't my favourite kind of movies but "Juste une question d'amour" was excellent. the actors and actresses were extremely convincing. i loved it.

I've never reviewed a film here but this one - wow! Fantastic! And Stéphan Guérin-Tillié is unbelievably hot!

I am from the deep south in the US so I know what an ordeal it is to come out to your parents. In fact, I've had to come out to my mother FOUR times. And I was visiting my father over this last Father's Day and it became apparent that he too has forgotten the last time I came out to him. If only parents knew the PAIN it causes their children to reveal who they really are to their parents, they might try to be more open-minded to knowing who their children REALLY are. This film was so true and honest and the stakes were so real and true-to-life. It is the most personal and affecting film that speaks to me I have ever seen! I only HOPE I meet some as beautiful as Stéphan Guérin-Tillié and caring as Cedric.

Want to know how to deal with your parents in LGBT Relationships, feeling troubled? Then this movie is definitely a must-watch for you!

It's a very nice french movie, and you can watch it on the site called "gaymovies.lgbt"

this French film is without a doubt, the most beautiful film made. I am glad to see that there are films of gay people in a realistic matter and not in a stereotypical way where they die of AIDS, be murdered, act all flamboyant and with a lisp, or anything negative like American media used to do and are still doing but less and less. We need more positive films like this where there's an issue of coming out to people, being in a relationship, living life with a job, place to live, and more. This is a must see. I love it so much, i doubt there is any reason to dislike this film. Definitely deserves a ten! or an Eleven! ah, maybe infinite out of ten! kudos to the people making this film. Laurent and Cedric are totally awesome characters and their scenes keeps me grinning.

For a change: A coming-out story acted with great skill and staged with a sage sensitivity, realistic in so many ways, and dealing head-on with what is unfortunately an issue for far too many parents--accepting a child for what he or she is, how he or she develops, loving them simply because they are your children.

The relationship between Cedric and Laurent develops quite easily, and because this is not a film about hot sex scenes but about people coping with growth and adulthood, one grows to care a good deal about the characters and share their development. This is a perfect film for parents who still might be hanging on to archaic gay issues in a so-called enlightened age--or for the kid who has to face the parents; if one were to judge by the media, just about everybody has adopted a enlightened stance about this once-touchy subject. If, however, one exists in a small community largely untouched by outside forces, it is a film like this that help in making changes easier--and at any rate, it's a touching, adult story told with great skill.

Juste Une Question D'Amour Director: Christian Faure. Starring: Cyrille Thouvenin, Stephan Guerin-Tillie, Eva Darlan. A beautiful emotive portrait of love between two people who are opposite ends of the coming out process coupled with strained family relations and emotional upheaval. With broad-brush strokes and delicate touches of colour and humour Juste Une Question D'Amour, gets to the heart of human emotion in a pure and faultless way. There is an refreshing honesty in the characters and storyline that really is a joy to watch, especially as it navigates well clear of the supposed stereotypes that can often dog other releases from the gay cinema industry. There are no drag queens, no leather men, no simpering disco dollies with their heads in the clouds and no randy bears lusting after the next young cub to wander in sporting check shirt and dirty Levi's. Nope, this is so not that sort of movie, there are just ordinary people here, just nice average ordinary folk and it is so much the better for it.

A heart-breaking portrait of suburban and rural French life, Juste Une Question D'Amour follows two weeks in the life of Laurent, a fascinating young French guy in his very early twenties as he navigates some difficult personal circumstances and decisions. Laurent's family are hideously beset with deep-seated homophobia, Laurent's own cousin and childhood best friend, Marc, was completely disowned and ostracised when his sexuality became known. The entire family, with the exception of Laurent refused point-blank to visit Marc in hospital before he died.

We see Laurent's family, his father and uncle talking about how homosexuality disgusts them and his grief weary mother is seems to be walking through life in a zombie like state, so consumed is she by her own thoughts, her own grief who swallows half a drug store each day just to get by. Laurent has unsurprisingly and understandably retreated away from his own sexual identity, as well as his family to some extent. On the occasions when he does visit, he is never alone, he takes his friend and roommate Carole with him. There are some beautiful moments between Laurent and Carole that are light, easy and yet so full of affection and care they are a joy to watch and had Laurent not been gay, you know they could have made a lovely couple.

Beautiful scenes follow as the two young men get to know each other, explore the others personalities, ideal and dreams. There are moments of pure tender reflection, infectious affection, laughter and just a little pain. Laurent is amazed and secretly impressed with the open attitude of acceptance by Cedric's mother, she bat's not an eyelash, let alone lid, at her sons sexuality. So far removed from his own first hand experiences, it opens his eyes and his mind a little further, expanding the realm of possibilities.

Cedric's mother is a deeply feeling and intuitive person, she is also refreshingly honest and makes no bones about the fact that she wishes her son were straight, yet as she calls it, it is better for her son to be gay and part of her life, than be gay a not part of it. The mother- son dynamic works incredibly well here and they are such believable characters that you cannot help but feel drawn and warm to them. The affection, care and love is clear to see, enjoy and almost taste.

Cedric's mother does not want her son to be unhappy and heart-broken again and you get the impression she has the same feelings toward Laurent, that whilst Cedric is away in Paris, she decides on a little trip herself. Off she drives to the country village where Laurent's parents run a little drug store. Once there she tells them she wants their help to get their two sons back together. Now there is some ambiguity surrounding her knowledge, did she know Laurent was not out and therefore forcing the situation, or did she genuinely believe he was as open with his parents as her son is with her? Either way, the news that she brings is not welcome and goes down like Gary Glitter shopping in Mothercare! Laurent is beside himself when he finds out what she has done, it is all his worst nightmares arriving at once. His head and heart are pounding yet answers are far from his confused mind. His parents are equally as distraught and muddled and you recognise there is going to be much soul searching and tears falling before bedtime.

It is an achingly poignant and deeply affecting movie for its realistically honest depictions of human relationships in the crux of death and revelation. It shines a light on the scenario or situations that many gay people go through on the 'coming out' bus journey. It affectionately and decently deals with a range of views and emotions, without ever getting confused. It is also a film about love, first love, real love, family love and friendship love and what each of those mean and how they make us react and engage. Read more and find out where this film made it in the Top 50 Most Influential Gay Movies of All Time book, search on Amazon for Top 50 Most Influential Gay Movies of All Time, or visit - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007FU7HPO

From the beginning of the plot i could see that something will bloom soon, the way the characters show affection for one another its was really joy to see.

As the story goes on i like to say that the cast deliver a decent performance to the audience plus a little but nudity to tease the watchers make it feel more intense, also they got bonding to each other that show us who watch feel the story is real and alive

All i can say was i hope i could see more movie like this with a fairy happy ending that i always wanted to see an easy conflict and a great the end it could make the audience enjoy it :)