Movie Review: C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)

Rating: 5/5

Just the other day, i watched a movie with my girlfriend, that she thought was wort watching. Although the poster and the synopsis did not give me a big "YEAH!", it finally came with a bit of a delay.

This Canadian production (French) is worth going to watch. It not only shows an issue's point of view that a few gay people would be able to relate to, but also creates quiet a realistic way of "dreaming", if that makes sense. The cinematography, the special effects and the fashions are very well reinterprated. It made me remember what "ugly" trousers and fashion i used to wear back then in the 80s....

Zachary Beaulieu (Mark-André Grodin), one of the 5 sons, who is on the path to discover his inclination to the male gender in a very indirect way. By living his own world, which is being influenced by the 70s and 80s, he encounters diverse adventures with male friends and the boyfriend of his cousin. At the same time, his relationship between his father and him goes from good to very bad to very good again.
The story looks closely into how this relationship evolves and gets distroyed and to be reconsiled after the eldest of the sons dies.

The relation to the Christian ideals and believes gives the drama film a very nice and comfortable feeling, with a bit of humoristic touch, that is subtily done. The emotional level is very realistic, because i believe that every gay person in this world can somehow relate to the story and the relation one has to his or her parent. At some point of the movie, my girlfriend and I felt so moved by a particular scene, that we both started t cry quietly in our little corner of the seat, wishing for a similar ending.

Bottom line: Mark-André Grodin acts really well in his second film and his sexy look throughout all the eras between the 60s to the 80s (yum!) is worth sitting in a freezing cold cinema for 2 hours. Thus, if you get the chance to see this movie in your country, please go and have a look at this 5 times awarded drama... that's C.R.A.Z.Y.!!

Rating: M18
Consumer Advice: Mature Theme
Language: French with English Subtitles
Genre: Drama
Director: Jean-Marc Vallee
Cast: Michel Cote, Marc-Andre Groudin, Danielle Proulx

It's a story of two love affairs. A father's love for his five sons. And one son's love for his father, a love so strong it compels him to live a lie. That son is Zac Beaulieu, born on the 25th of December 1960, different from all his brothers, but desperate to fit in. During the next 20 years, life takes Zac on a surprising and unexpected journey that ultimately leads him to accept his true nature and, even more importantly, leads his father to love him for who he really is. A mystical fable about a modern-day Christ-like figure, "C.R.A.Z.Y" exudes the beauty, the poetry and the madness of the human spirit in all its contradictions.

Official Selection at Singapore International Film Festival 2006.

Awards:
13 Nominations - Quebec's Jutra Awards
Nominated - European Film Awards - Screen International Award
Won - 43rd Gijon Film Festival - Best Director
Won - 43rd Gijon Film Festival - Best Script
Won - 43rd Gijon Film Festival - Best Art Direction
Won - Young Jury Prize - Best Feature Film
Won - Toronto International Film Festival 2005 - Best Canadian Feature Film