Friends (1971)

not horrible nor great

Don't listen to the negative reviews

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

I'm not a huge Elton fan but in this case, the soundtrack really helped transport me in time to this sweet love story set in the Camargue, France in the early 1970's. It's hard to imagine now that this would have been a hugely controversial movie when it was released about two underage runaways who set up house in a remote area and learn about love and life. It just shows that love and a strong bond between two people can conquer all. Or at least it could back then before tax and electricity bills blah blah. So if you're prepared to suspend reality for a few hours and just feel hopeful for these two young lovers then you will enjoy this sweet, simple and beautiful film as much as I did. Incidentally, I went to the Camargue about 5 years ago and it remains unchanged in it's charm so for me this was a nice reminder too that there are places that exist on this earth which are unruined and rustic.

When it appeared in movie theaters around 1971, I went to see "Friends" many times. Apparently, the music and the movie had their impact on me because when I got married in 1973, my wife-to-be and I used "Michelle's theme" (Cast a pebble on the water...) for our wedding music along with "None but the Lonely Hearts" by Tchaikovsky! Later, I saw the sequel "Paul and Michelle" which was also quite good if not a bit sad at the end. But "Friends" is sad at the end, too.Now I am 63 years old and came across "Friends" on Amazon and bought it in streaming video. (The sequel is available on DVD region 0 so it plays on any DVD Player...just Google "Paul and Michelle" DVD). "Friends" on DVD is region 2 so it will not play on American DVD's and the video tape is extremely rare. I just bought it!"Friends" and "Paul and Michelle" remain Anicee's best work. I feel that in later movies, she was exploited because of her physical beauty in silly scripts with gratuitous nudity. I have read that there were those who tried to cast her as a "sex bomb".Sean Bury who played Paul announced some very sad news. Anicee Alvina passed away of lung cancer in 2006. She was born on January 28, 1953. Anicee was 53. However, she was always sweet and CUTE. She was a good singer... May she rest in the arms of God.

Michelle, Anicée Alvina, was so nice, and I really fall in love with her. She died a few months ago! Friends? Really the best movie of my youth. The "seasons reprise" of Elton and his arranger Paul Buckmaster sings in my head forever... Please, if you know where i could find a VHS of the film, mail me!! My husband of 26 years & I saw this as Juniors in HS. Yes, he was my boyfriend then and still continues to be. I think we both cried our eyes out. I think possibly we were drawn to the movie by the Elton John music in it, but were then swept away by the teenage angst of it all. Paul and Michelle were just about our ages when we saw the movie- so very easy to identify with!! It is wonderful to hear that Sean is doing well, I am also in the "helping professions" (an RN). I thought his performance was good and very believable. "Michelle" came across as very sweet, fragile and vulnerable. I think the main theme is that if they didn't have to deal with the "real world" then they could be happy and continue to be in love. How many times have all of us wanted to just have a "Calgon moment". If we all had no outside worries and could just deal with our "basic needs" it could be somewhat easier. I have a 15 yr old daughter and wouldn't have a problem with her seeing this movie.. Kids see so much worse these days that this is very tame. For those of you who are trying to locate the CD my husband (a huge Elton John fan) was able to get a 2-CD set which came out in 1992. It is called, "Elton John-rare masters" Polygram studios. This has all the friends songs as well as many others. As far as we know this is the only CD with the "Friends" music. We also had the LP years ago and were thrilled to find the CD. Good luck. I recommend this movie for anyone who loves the "young love" theme. I only wish it was on DVD now!!

I saw the movie in 1972, and like other people who have commented on it here ... I went back many more times to see it over and over ... I think 9 times in all. Just great is how I would describe it ... I was taken by the sound track, the beautiful panoramas of the south of France, the life style the kids began on their own. An ideal way to live is what they had set up ... of course the powers that be have to intercede, but when I forget that part I find myself wanting to be in the movie and live like that! So good that it is available on DVD now ... it was not around for years! TLW