Bilitis (1977)

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

I remember vaguely having heard the music of this film when I was a child, a wonderful score composed by Francis Lai. After waiting so many years to watch this movie, I was quite disappointed; the director (photographer David Hamilton) was able to create a dream-like atmosphere for the film, but that's about it. "Bilitis" is an almost plot less, erotic feature about a teenage girl who is confused about her sexuality (she is attracted to both girls and boys). Patty D'Arbanville plays the main role with a certain charm and naivety, but the rest of the characters are completely flat and uninteresting. Nevertheless, there is an acute sense of romance and nostalgic longing in this movie, plus the unforgettable soundtrack and fine cinematography (reminded me of impressionist paintings...) Rating: 5/10

THis is the debut film of D. Hamilton, a very well known photographer from the seventies. Contrary to the other commentator I found this a marvelous film, but you have to look at it from a certain perspective. If you look at this film searching for a good script, for profundity of conversation, for strong acting (genre "Cat on a ht tin roof"), this film will not appeal to you. But if you look at it like looking at a Monnet painting, listening to Debussy music or reading M. Proust, in essence, if you drink its simple, uncomplicated impressions, listen to the sublime music, watch the beautiful and stylish shots, enjoy the sensuality in the film without too much looking for sense in everything, the film is truly beautiful. In short: if you look at it like you look at impressionist art, not looking for all sorts of plots and hidden messages, but just to enjoy its simple and straight forward beauty, you will be drawn into a wonderful world and afterwards you'll be longing to live in that world of flowers, fresh life, warm summer in the country, swimming in the sea, having your first love etc...

This is an sensuous film with beautiful teenaged girls lovingly filmed undressing, and then playing, in a lake.In fact an edited version of 30 minutes would make my favourite film of all time. The pity is the other 60 minutes.My critique can be broken up into great, mediocre and disappointing.GreatWithout a doubt this film has the most erotic and sensous scenes I have ever scene. Specifically:Full frontal nudity of teenaged girls undressing, and then playing, in the lake;Dormitory scenes with Bilitis and her bestfriend;Semi-nude of love scenes between Melissa [Mona Kristensen]and Bilitis [Patti D'Arbanville];Bilitis having Melissa help undress Bilitis after a sea-side swim; andTheatrical performance with girls in see-through costumes.GoodThe tension between Melissa and her husband, Pierre [Gilles Kohler];The scenes of pre-war semi-rural France;The costume recreations-especially with the teenaged girls' school clothing.DisappointingThe lead male, Lucas [Bernard Giraudeau], who was a weak male-chauvinist. Maybe as this was a girls' boarding school there was a shortage of attractive boys/men around, and so they would have fantasised about any youngish new man who appeared on the scene.It would have been better if Bilitis and Pierre were attracted to one another as that that would have created sexual tension. He was the only male character that I liked, yet he only appeared in a few scenes.If not tension between Bilitis and Pierre , then between Pierre and the girl he was taking to the equestrian event in Monaco.Patti D'urbanville at 26-27 playing a 16-17 year old. Although the use of a substitute teenaged figure for the sensuous scenes were used.OverallI loved it.

I was so let down by this film. The tag line was something like 'The story of a girls sexual awakening'. You can only imagine how disappointed I was. I was seventeen at the time and I took my girlfriend to see it. I thought we were going to see a sexy movie that would leave my girlfriend gagging for it. Sadly that was not the case. I guess we just weren't ready for a deep and meaningful movie that required an element of sophistication that we just didn't possess at the time. I'm not so sure I possess it now, and I have long since parted company with that particular girlfriend (pity really... my first love). We left the cinema half way through the film, my friend, who should have known better, stayed for the whole thing. I still got the required result with my girlfriend, the film just didn't help much. It would be interesting to see it again so that I can make a more informed critique, though I feel the experience has left me scarred for life.