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Adventures of Felix

Adventures of Felix

List Price: $24.98
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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: one man's journey
Review: In my opinion this film is all about one man's journey across France in the 90s. It is a singular look at one man's experiences with being gay, Arab and HIV+ against the backdrop of a "family" made of up of people he meets along the way.
His character is interesting, annoying and charming in a way that most scripts would never dare to portray. And though the script is flawed, it is funny and shows France as it is at the moment, and that is not just about Paris! Each of his "family" are like archetypes of modern French people e.g. the spoiled student looking for thrills, the old women with memories of the old French Empire, the Parisian leftist professor boyfriend etc.
It is not a perfect story but very good and quite diverting.
However, if you're looking for cheap thrills, don't let the box cover fool you. That scene is good but not indicative of the whole movie.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Pointless
Review: That and arbitrary, boring, unbelievable and even silly. Those were the words that came to my mind watching the movie, and I couldn't finish it. Who would have thought the same team of directors-writers would go on to make such an interesting movie as 'My life on ice'. I'd advise you to go for that one and skip this one.
The dvd is 2.35 non-anamorphic and it's not very sharp.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A really dull and tedious gay road movie.
Review: The Adventures of Felix would have to be one of the most dull and uninteresting films about gay men that I've ever seen. A kind of quasi road movie that has at its protagonist hitchhiking his way from northern France to Marseilles to track down the father he never knew. Why he would actually need to do this is rather unclear: Felix (Sami Bouajila) is a thirty something, cute North African living in Dieppe, France, with Daniel (Pierre-Loup Rajot), his loyal, devoted schoolteacher boyfriend. He lives in a nice apartment, and has ready access to his HIV medications. He's just recently signed up for unemployment benefits, and its obvious that he's not planning to get a job any time soon. But after finding some family photos Felix packs his medication and a rainbow coloured kite, and embarks on his journey, which is depicted in a series of episodic vignettes.

Along the way, he comes into contact with various members of an imaginary family each of whom is introduced via the title card. He meets a "little brother," a 17-year-old who has more than a familial interest in him; a "grandmother," who shares her home and her philosophies of life; and a hunky "cousin," with whom Felix has a mini-liaison. There's also a subplot involving a brutal, racially motivated murder that Feliz witnesses at the beginning of his journey. He never tells the authorities that he witnessed it, but the episode comes back to haunt him later on in the film.

None of his experiences are particularly interesting or come across as that life affirming. Felix pointlessly wonders (and sometimes dances) through the Picaresque French countryside, optimistically singing away and basking in his newfound freedom. But his breezy charisma and simple charm can't rise above the waffly script and the sense of aimlessness that inhabits the narrative. The individual episodes are neither dramatic nor comical, and there's only one sexy scene when he meets the hunky "cousin" that really makes the viewer sit up and watch.

The social issues, particularly regarding racism and living as HIV positive are mildly interesting, but they don't pack enough emotional punch to matter that much. The countryside and the cute towns are absolutely gorgeous but the landscape alone isn't enough to sustain interest in this movie. By the end of the ninety minutes most viewers will probably wish that Feliz had just taken the train. Mike Leonard January 05.


Rating: 3 stars
Summary: has potential, but a bit slow and dull
Review: The movie does have potential. Felix is gay and is an Arab in France. He does not know his father, but develops odd and interesting relationships with random strangers that are kind enough to let him in. This is a coming of age movie in wehre Felix sees that family does not mean blood, that friends and lovers are can be like family; that his father is not that important.

The theme is interesting, but the characters are not very well developed and teh beginning is very dry. One does not get to know Felix very well and see why he must meet his father, he seems comfortable with his lifestyle with his lover and the end is a bit flat also.

Not very entertaining, but good intentions. It is also a pretty short movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A quiet little gem
Review: The negative reviews about this quiet little gem were penned by those who didn't understand this film... and probably don't enjoy human interest tales. I discovered this delight on DVD - a simple story without any car chases or action sequences. The charismatic and talented Sami Bouajila is outstanding as the title character, adding depth and believability to an already intelligently written character (and script). It's refreshing to see a gay man in a loving relationship without any drama. His HIV is also dealt with intelligently and sensitively. Felix's interaction with the solid supporting cast is a delight to watch across the board. Treat yourself to Felix! Highly recommended!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Families can be created
Review: This is a film about an orphan man hitching his way through France to meet his father for the first time. In his journey he learns that families do not have to be biological to be of value. The film is broken up in seven pieces: the introduction of the main character, a plot thread (murder!) to weave the film together, then a meeting of 5 people that becomes his family. The "grandmother" and "sister" story lines are very well done. They clearly illustrate the needs of these characters to make deep connections with each other and the brief events that tie them together. Unfortunately, the other three encounters fail to do as well. It is hard to imagine that the lead would actually keep in touch with the men he meets along the way. The "little brother" story is cute and has many great monents, but the characters fail to connect in a lasting way. The "cousin" vignette is simply gratuitous and nothing more (like too many American gay films). The "father" section wraps up the film without really establishing any significant connection with the two men. I am giving this film four stars because it is a nice film about discovery and family. A welcome change from many of the other gay films out there. Still I am left wishing for a remake that could demonstrate some real male bonding. If you like films that are French, gay, or the theme of creating a family is one that has touched your life, then this film is worthy of your collection.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Worst movie EVER!
Review: This is by far the worst movie ever, and mentioning the worst gay movie I have ever seen. It carries not substace whatsoever, the main character is boring and predictable. If you want to see a great gay movie BIG EDEN is the movie to watch

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent
Review: Well done, feel good, and extremely realistic. Sami potrayed the character well. Another great french film.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Left Me Flat
Review: What I had read about the movie made me want to watch it. But, it took three nights to finish it. This one man's journey didn't seem to go anywhere. Somehow, I was waiting for resolution, but didn't get that sense. I didn't find that many redeeming qualities in the Felix. He didn't seem to feel any guilt for car theft, treating a lovelorn teen badly, and generally just being more cynical than I got the sense that he needed to be. As he travels, he encounters 4 different people who supposedly have an influence on him and his journey. But I didn't see him take any of that with him as he went. I guess that I ended up confused about what all the fuss was about. Merely passing through lives doesn't do much for me. Becoming a different person after having encountered others does. Felix didn't really change or grow from his experiences, and I am left with a flat feeling, having not gained anything from the movie either.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A delightful piece of work
Review: ~~~~~~~____________~~~~~~~~

You have HIV and you just got laid off from your job. What do you do? You go on a trip and have fun, that is what! Felix, French-Arab gay man, hits the road to find his father in the heavely Arab populated southern France city of Marsaille. On the road, he meets people who each bring a missing part to his life.

The straight actor who plays Felix, Sami Bouajila, a French-Arab himself, is so good at acting that he has an oomph! Directors Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau have dished in the DVD commentary that Bouajila even added an unscripted kiss to the movie. Now, that is what I call a straight man; a guy who is not confused about his sexuality.

Felix, who witnesses a murder, has to battle with his own racial fears. But, in a French soap opera, he finds a distraction from life's turbulous times. Truly, this 2000 French work is an adventureous movie, indeed. It is available from all large bookstores. Two thumps up, definitely.


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