Buy My Life on Ice

My Life on Ice

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Synopsis

This endearing and sexy story of one year in the life of a gay French teenager is seen entirely through the lens of his video camera. A truly remarkable film from gay filmmakers Olivier Ducastle and Jacques Martineau (The Adventures of Felix).

3 Reasons To buy this film

A gay teen films his life and sees himself through the camera's eye
Star Jimmy Tavares does a gradual striptease throughout the whole film.
It's certainly the most original coming-of-age film we've seen yet.

Review

From the directors of The Adventures of Felix comes the story of a cute gay teenager who discovers himself only through the eyes of others. The film is the video diary of Etienne (Tavares), a budding championship figure skater, who tapes his life in its seventeenth year; we only see him when someone else holds the camera or he uses the remote. And “remote” is the key here -- Etienne is clearly more comfortable watching the world than participating in it. His passions are all singular – his skating, his one close friend (the Tom Cruise-like Lucas Bonnifait), his video camera, and his handsome geography teacher (Jonathan Zaccaï).

When his single mother (Ariane Ascaride) suggests he try hockey, he replies in a perfect teen-aged snit, “I hate teams.” The one unspoken character is Etienne’s budding sexuality (which is not officially revealed till the end). Etienne is always filming other male skaters, construction workers, his teacher and his gorgeous best friend. You get the sense that the camera is aware of his gayness before he is thanks to these always inventive filmmakers. While this method of filmmaking is certainly different, it never feels less that real. One rather important element of the film we feel compelled to mention is that Etienne plays a game of strip-tease with his camera throughout the movie, saving his whole delicious body for the end. We are drawn into the world of a teenager who is outwardly charming yet inwardly conflicted. With a surprise and satisfying ending, this utterly beguiling journey is all you could hope for. (French with English subtitles)

-- Andrew Preis

Customer Reviews

0 (No Stars) Absorbing

OCDixon wrote on 01/27/2005:

During the first few minutes of this movie I wasn't sure if I could make it through to the end - I was a bit put off. As the movie progressed I became absorbed. It is a character study on many levels. What kept me to the end was the fact that it seemed very real - more real than any movie I have seen in a while. I had to check to see that it was even written or was directed by anyone other than the lead character. The acting is unusual because it doesn't seem like they are acting, the actors are often uncomfortable in front of the lead's camera, the same way I am when I'm in front of a video camera. I would say it's a great reality show - well scripted and acted.