Ma Vie En Rose

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One of the sweetest films to emerge from Europe in the 1990s, Alain Berliner's Ma Vie en Rose is the story of an innocent little boy, Ludovic (played with noncloying directness by Georges Du Fresne), who wants to be a girl. Convinced that he's the product of misplaced chromosomes (he imagines the mix-up in one of many delightful daydream sequences), he sets about righting the mistake by wearing dresses and high heels and experimenting with lipstick and makeup. The otherwise friendly suburban neighborhood becomes horrified by the gender confusion, though tellingly the cruelest blows come not from the teasing classmates but intolerant adults: one scene recalls the torch-and-pitchfork angry villagers from a Frankenstein movie. Ludo tries hard to be butch, but he can't deny his nature, especially when he meets a kindred spirit: a little girl who gladly trades her dress for his pants and shirt. This bittersweet mix of innocent fantasy and childhood cruelty has its moments of sadness and crushing misunderstandings, but the overall tone is loving, filled with tenderness and culminating in acceptance and togetherness. As the family stumbles and struggles to come to terms with Ludo, they find something special within him, an innocent conviction so powerful and pure that it's infectious. Ludo may not grow up to become a girl as he hopes, but his belief is so strong it's hard to deny him the possibility. This films reminds us that, to a child, anything is possible. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

G*o*r*g*e*o*u*s*.......2007-07-29

Casting the TG experience from a child's point of view is an epiphany; who could be more vulnerable?

Emotionally speaking, this is supernova beauty peaking eternally. I saw it 6 months ago and, just remembering it, gets me close to tears.

Good tears, mind you.

Touching rendering of a family dealing with their transgendered child.......2007-05-26

The style of the film sets the mood for fantasy. The colors are vibrant and un-natural, the colors of a cartoon. We see Ludovic, an amazingly beautiful little boy who loves the cartoon character, Pam, apparantly a French version of Barbie. She is gorgeous, has long white-blond hair and sprinkles fairy dust to manifest the man of her dreams, whom she marries.

Ludo, somehow identifies with this dazzling character and starts dressing up as a girl, with makeup and jewelry and talks of marrying his little schoolboy friend. The parents who are middle class, apparently "normal" people, who have just moved into a picture perfect (for them) suburban neighborhood, and who just want a happy life, are at their wits' ends with how to deal with Ludo.

The mother has a mother, an aging wannabe hippie type who encourages Ludo in his escape into his fantasy world. Her personal fantasy is to remain forever young, slim and rich.

The story is delicately told, with perfect acting. The director is careful not to ascribe too much blame to anyone, I felt. We can see and empathize with the reactions of everyone. The parents and the granny sincerely try to help the child, each in his own way, even while their lives are uprooted by the situation.

As viewers, we are drawn into the drama by the sensitive script and excellent acting, especially that of the captivating child. We want everything to turn out well for him. The ending suggests that perhaps there is some kind of resolution, but I didn't find it very convincing, (hence the lack of more stars). I rather think that the director was engaging in some wishful fantasy himself with this conclusion. In "reality" I think Ludo and his family have a long row to hoe.

A Cinematic Triumph.......2007-03-04

"Ma Vie En Rose" Is the story of a little boy named "Ludovic" who desperately wants to be a girl.
While most boys his age want to be cowboys or Soldiers Ludovic dreams of living in a fantasy world where dolls are larger than life and he is a princess. He is not free to do the things that feel natural for him to do ,That other people say are not allowed or socially accepted. He creates an imaginary friend name Pam who is a Barbie like doll that plays with him and takes him on journeys far away from the reality of his confused and troubled life.
It's a heart breaking story of how people ostracize and condemn things and people they don't understand.
In Ludovic"s heart he is a girl and doesn't understand why people ridicule and torment him "cant they see it ?" he must think. He rebels against all the attempts to make him stop acting out his fantasies and wearing what he feels is proper and comfortable attire for him and then his neighbors and acquaintances perceive him as sick ,disturbed and in need of help when in reality they are the ones that need the help so they can stop being judgmental and ignorant.
While the other people around Ludovic are like circles and can roll freely he is a square that does not roll smoothly and will endure all the bumps and have a rocky ride ahead of him due to the fact he is shaped differently. This movie is a must for anyone who might think their child is exhibiting signs of transgenderism during their early years and for people who cant think out of the box so they can put themselves in Ludovic's tiny yet heavy shoes or for anyone who wants to see a beautiful story.

How to be yourself in spite of ignorance of others.......2007-01-11

What a delightful movie full of nuance and beautiful about a boy who loves wearing dresses and a family trying to accomodate him as best they can. What is particularly brilliant is that the family tries to help but they are faced (as is the boy) with the tension between individual desires and the demands of society to live within strict gender roles and expression of those roles. A GREAT MOVIE!

Excellent movie !!!.......2006-07-24

A very tender movie full of wonderful images and good performances...it is one of the best movies I have ever seen. I highly recommend it . Besides, it deals with a controversial issue successfully without falling into stereotypes or predictive situations. It is a real "must see".

My Life In Pink (Ma Vie En Rose) [Import, All-regions] (Dvd)

Average customer rating:

beautiful
A Cinematic Triumph

My Life In Pink (Ma Vie En Rose) [Import, All-regions] (Dvd)
Director: Alain Berliner
Manufacturer: Dawoon
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Features:

Sometimes you just have to be yourself.
An enchanting film about the universal evils of homophobia. But it's really not about sexually - the boy just wants to dress like a girl!
"Alain Berliner's audacious take on nature vs. nurture melds outstanding central [performances] ... to yield an entertaining and thought-provoking debut effort with near-universal emotional resonance." LISA NESSELSON, Variety
This is the ORIGINAL theatrical release as envisioned by the director with the original French soundtrack (English and Korean subtitles.)
Import from Korea made for dvd players in the USA/Canada/Korea (NTSC, All-Region)

ASIN: B000N4I424

Product Description

Ludovic is a small boy who cross-dresses and generally acts like a girl, talks of marrying his neighbor's son and can not understand why everyone is so surprised about it. His actions lead to problems for him and his family.

Customer Reviews:

beautiful.......2007-04-07

There aren't many movies that move me like this movie did. It's a beautiful story about family and how amazingly screwed up they all are. I mean, really, really screwed up in a monumental fashion.

A Cinematic Triumph.......2007-03-04

Ma Vie En Rose (Mi Vida En Rosa) aka (My Life In Pink) [NTSC/REGION 1 & 4 DVD. Import-Latin America]

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Ma Vie En Rose (Mi Vida En Rosa) aka (My Life In Pink) [NTSC/REGION 1 & 4 DVD. Import-Latin America]
Director: Alain Berliner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Ludovic is a young boy who can't wait to grow up to be a woman. When his family discovers the little girl blossoming in him they are forced to contend with their own discomfort and the lack of understanding from their new neighbors. Their anger and impatience cave and Ludovic is sent to see a psychiatrist in the hopes of fixing whatever is wrong with him. A movie that addresses trans-gender and gender issues in general through the eyes of a child.

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