Gabrielle is a 22-year-old woman with Williams syndrome, a genetic disorder that often slows cognitive skills, while increasing sociability and musical talent. She sings in a choir with other disabled adults, where she meets and falls in love with the dashingly handsome Martin. The bliss of first love is interrupted, however, by Martins interfering mother, who worries that special needs individuals arent sufficiently fit for romantic relationships.
F**N
Just different: not better or worse, just different.
Being different doesn't mean being better or worse, it just means being different.And Gabrielle is different only in the sense she was stricken with a genetic aberration: Williams Syndrome. Yet, she lives or tries to live like everyone else; she wants an apartment, and she wants love to enter into her life. And she gets involved with everyday life. She joins a Montreal choir. And she tries to cook, yet she has a mishap with her toaster. Since this story takes place in Montreal, it's in French, yet an intermediate French student could follow along with the plot, trial and tribulations of Gabrielle and her sister Sophie.Nonetheless, she is inflicted with Williams Syndrome, and everyday life could pose a danger to her health and safety. Her caretaker is her sister, Sophie, played by Melissa Desormeaux Poulin. As far as Gabrielle, she is played by Gabrielle Marion-Rivard, who in real life also has Williams Syndrome. Yet, she is well aware what others go through in everyday life, so she falls in love with Martin, a co-member of the choir, played by Alexandre Landry.To say the least, this is a brilliant movie. Hats off to the director, Louise Archambautt, for taking a chance on directing this movie. This movie is so out of the sequence of a typical movie, it is a totally original work of film. I guess this is what made the movie work for me, it's original. It's not about spectacular lights, or flashy jewelry, it's about someone's life, who happens to have Williams Syndrome. Emotionally, this movie is gratifying. One roots for Gabrielle, to succeed in life. It makes one feel good to root for the underdog. And when the underdog does succeed: next feeling: pure joy.
B**A
Don't be confused. This is about a young woman with William's Syndrome
The film I am watching has nothing to do with a man who is an author. This is a very special film starring someone with William's syndrome! Not only is the music beautiful, the topic is important. Disabled people need to be able to have love relationships, and this film shows the difficulty connected to that need. I have taught disabled students, and they are 100% human,so many families with disabled kids could experience these same difficulties. I cannot recommend this film enough, as it gently explores a very delicate topic.
M**A
Four Stars
Enlightening!
M**K
Five Stars
So refreshing to see something outside the traditional Hollywood box. Heartwarming yet heartbreaking. Marion-Rivard leads a multitalented ensemble.
J**Y
One Star
No I did not like it. It could have been made better was disappointed in it
K**Y
thoroughly enjoyed this film
So beautifully delivered! Loved it...
H**M
For those who want to understand ....
Williams syndrome
T**3
Moving, but too long
Although Gabrielle has Williams syndrome, she is much like others girls in their 20s: she wants to be independent and she falls in love. Unlike others her age, she cannot be fully independent, and her reliance on family members brings its own issues. The film movingly portrays her struggles, but also some significant triumphs. On the down side: it is overly long, and it raises but, ultimately, skirts the hard issue of motherhood for the disabled.
F**9
Another great Quebec film
A brave and uplifting film that shows the realities of living with Williams syndrome and another great movie about overcoming prejudice
J**Y
Sympathische Darsteller und wichtiges Thema
Aufgrund begeisterter Rezensionen und beruflichem Interesse an dem Williams-Beuren-Syndrom habe ich mir die DVD besorgt.Ein wichtiges Thema, nämlich die Integration von Menschen mit Behinderung jeder Art und insbesondere der verklemmte und gestörte Umgang vieler Normalos mit dem Thema Sexualität bei Behinderten wird angesprochen, und ein Schwerpunkt liegt auch auf der Musik, die diese Menschen mit Begeisterung machen, aber der Film hat, glaube ich, einen Empathie-Bonus bekommen, er ist zu langatmig, und ich hätte mir etwas mehr Information zu den Charakteristika des Gen-Defekts gewünscht.Mindestens genau so berührend, aber unverkrampfter und unterhaltsamer fand ich den Fernsehfilm "So wie du bist" mit Gisela Schneeberger und der Schauspielerin Juliane Götze, die unter Trisomie 21 (Down-Syndrom, "Mongolismus") leidet.Neben der Hauptdarstellerin Juliane Götze spielen weitere Menschen mit dem Gendefekt mit, wir sind gerührt, wenn sie ihren Boy-Friend "Mein George Clooney" nennt, und mit ihrem unverkrampften Verhältnis zum Thema Sex("Natürlich nehme ich die Pille") erteilt sie Gisela Schneeberger und uns eine Lehrstunde, ich glaube, manchem dürfte der Unterkiefer heruntergeklappt sein.Gut, Juliane Götze spielt regelmäßig in einer Theatergruppe und ist deshalb nicht so ein Laie wie Gabrielle Marion-Rivard,aber "So wie du bist" trägt meinens Erachtens mehr als "Gabrielle" dazu bei, sich mit dem Thema auseinanderzusetzen. Leider gibt es den Film (noch) nicht auf DVD, was schleunigst geändert werden sollte.Zusammenfassend ein Film zu einem wichtigen Thema, aus dem man aber mehr hätte machen können. Er plätschert so dahin, es lohnt ihn einmal gesehen zuhaben, das war`s.Doc Halliday
A**N
Not Quite What I Expected....
My niece, who lives in another country, has an adult son (who I have never met) who has Williams Syndrome. I was keen to see this movie as I thought it might give me some further insight and understanding into the disorder.The fact that Gabrielle has Williams Syndrome, in particular, is irrelevant to the movie, as the subject deals more with disabilities in general and the problems that the sufferers face, dealing with life, when they have the same desires and urges that most young people have and who's disabilities may not be so obvious.Some years ago I saw a TV documentary on "Williams", featuring two doctors who have a Williams Syndrome daughter The daughter has amazing musical talents. This obverse side of the "William's coin" did not come to the fore in the movie and I found that quite disappointing.All in all quite a good movie that deals with the problems of parents, care-givers and the patients themselves, as they try to make the best out of the difficult decisions that are forced upon them.
R**R
Der wohl berührendste Film, den ich gesehen habe
Auch wir haben als Familie mit einem Williams-Beuren-Kind den Film angesehen - und das bereits mehrfach. Hier passt einfach alles: Darsteller, Musik und ganz besonders die Regie. Gabrielle spielt sich wirklich selbst in ihrer unheimlich fröhlichen Art und ihrem Partner (der einzige Darsteller des Chors ohne Handicap) spielt seine Rolle so überzeugend, dass man fast nicht daran glaubt, dass er "ein ganz normaler Schauspieler" ist. Danke an alle Mitwirkenden und vor allem auch an die Regisseurin, die hier in meinen Augen ein Meisterwerk geschaffen hat. Ein Film auch für Menschen ohne Behinderung - für mehr Verständnis untereinander!
D**O
Super
Un DVD usagé parfait la boite de dvd aucune défaut je recommande ce vendeur merci beaucoup
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