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Times Have Been Better

Picture This! Home Video / Year: 2006

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Synopsis

No matter how you say “coming out” in French, it spells a dizzying family affair for a gay man, his adorable brother and his jaded parents in this delightful Gallic comedy.

3 Reasons To buy this film

Times Have Been Better is a liberating film known to cause spontaneous attacks of happiness.
It's a whole new look at coming out.
A major gay film festival hit -- a total crowd-pleaser

Review

Click here for the trailer.

When successful 33-year-old Parisian Jeremy (Arnaud Binard, seen in 2004’s guilty pleasure Grand Ecole) comes out to his parents during a surprise visit home, he sets the stage for the airing out of more than just his own closet. Having finally moved in with his boyfriend, Marc, Jeremy decides to finally spill the haricots to his loving yet in-the-dark folks. While his straight but not straight-and-narrow 18-year-old brother, Robin, has known the big news for quite some time and has no problem with it, the revelation leaves parents Rosine (A Love to Hide’s Charlotte de Turckheim) and Guy nonplused. As they struggle to comprehend what their son’s gayness means and how it came to pass, not to mention prepare for the inevitable introduction to Marc, Rosine and Guy begin to question everything in their lives -- including their own relationship and love for one another. A deliciously entertaining twist on your garden variety “coming-out” flick, Times Have Been Better shows how one truth can unleash and liberate others, perhaps for the worse yet more often -- given time -- for the better.

-- Lawrence Ferber

Keywords

Comedy, Family Life, Gay Male, Gay/Lesbian, International, Romance

Genres

International

Customer Reviews

"Liberal" Parents

Amos Lassen wrote on 04/03/2011:

This is a wonderful French comedy about a 30 year old guy who breaks the news to his parents that he has a boyfriend…and he tells them during brunch.
We have had many movies about coming-out but “Times Have Been Better” in that it is unique because it deals with an adult doing so. The cast of the movie is made up of three very hot men—a 30 year old yuppie, his very handsome 40 year old boyfriend and his very cute and understanding teenaged brother.
Jeremy, the 30 year old, has always excelled at everything and has just been promoted to an executive position at the bank where he works. His parents regard him as a golden child. They do not know that he is gay—in fact, the only member of the family that knows is his younger brother, Robin. Comes that fateful morning when Jeremy stops at his parents’ home for brunch that hr tells them that he is moving in with his boyfriend. Things heat up and Jeremy’s folks who have always thought of themselves as liberals and progressive do not take the news well. Each of the parents accuses the other of knowing about their son and not telling. Now they want to find out what caused Jeremy to be gay. Rosine, Jeremy’s mom, goes to a co-worker for advice and Guy, his dad, talks to his tennis buddies from whom he gets a few answers. Robin is elated as he is no longer the black sheep of the family. New drama arises from the entire situation and the parents take out their frustrations on the younger son. Will this family ever be the same after the “shocking” news?
The film is an absolute delight from start to finish and I think that what makes it so delightful is that it is a situation we can all recognize. It is not easy to tell the parents and one never knows what the reaction will be. Here it is exactly the opposite of what was expected.
The cast is superb—especially Charlotte de Turckheim as Rosine, the mother. Also outstanding is Bernard de Coq (I did not make that name up) as Guy, the father. The three men will capture your heart and your eyes and all in al this is simply a fun film.

Times Have Been Better, Or So We Think?

JANORM wrote on 07/17/2009:

This French film is one of love, growth, realization, and acceptance. It is a not so typical liberal family, who has to adjust to the discovery of their older son's Gay life-style. It is a very excellent example of the angst, the hurt, and the disappointment in this family. All this is portrayed so very poignatly by not only by the superb story line, but by the actors as well. This is a film that needs to be viewed by all partents with teenage children! This film is a very remarkable product with a very powerful message of life! This film is a must for your collection. THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF OUR CHILDREN, SHOULD ALWAYS MAKE OUR LIVES ADAPTABLE, NO MATTER THE CONSEQUENCES.