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Therese and Isabelle

Play trailer Poster for Therese and Isabelle Released May 14, 1968 1h 58m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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55% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Two young women (Essy Persson, Anna Gael) become lovers after unfulfilling and brutal encounters with men.

Critics Reviews

View All (11) Critics Reviews
Eric Henderson Slant Magazine Probably the most common misconception about Radley Metzger's films is that they are "innocent." Rated: 3.5/4 Dec 3, 2004 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times There is something preposterous in the sight of two adult women (Essy Persson and Anna Gael) costumed and cast as schoolgirls. The effect is roughly as convincing as Jonathan Winters in a Cub Scout uniform. Rated: 1.5/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review Penelope Houston The Spectator Therese and Isahelle, an eccentric and rather dreadful film, wraps up new permissiveness in rags and tatters of old art movie. May 9, 2018 Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion Lays out stone-cold architecture only to warm it up with the heady rush of sensual intoxication Sep 25, 2009 Full Review TV Guide A fairly sensitive, if somewhat exploitative, drama detailing a schoolgirl's foray into lesbianism. Rated: 2/4 Jan 11, 2008 Full Review Jake Euker F5 (Wichita, KS) Will likely provide a few quaint sexual thrills for straight guys, but, like all pornography, it tends to drag. Rated: 1.5/5 Jun 12, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (7) audience reviews
Audience Member If you've ever been young & passionately in love regardless of if you're gay or straight you'll relate to the characters' feelings in this film. This is the story of two girls very much infatuated with each other (but to them they are deeply in love). Yes, it is a lesbian-film; but the story of young love is what it is really about. The visual sexuality is subtle by today's standards, but the narrative over the lesbian scenes is filled with poetic descriptions of the intense love making that are far sexier than any of the displays of breasts or buttocks. Indeed, the nudity is never gratuitous and only displayed when part of the story. The framing of the story is easily predicted but well done. Overall an impressive film for me. The cinematography is especially stunning. Note that there are some 60's archetypes so it helps to be moderately familiar with western culture in 1968. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Une lesbienne classique embarquement école de cinéma. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member What was probably groundbreaking 45 years ago is now slow and understated. The beginning of a sapphic relationship is interesting, but still requires standard acting levels that are missing here. Oh and the leads are mislabeled here, the blonde is Isabelle. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member I'm surprised by some of the reviews. This is certainly not pornography of any sort. In fact, I felt it was one of the more thoughtful lesbian themed films, told in a very NON-exploitative fashion. Also a very realistic plot line. It's about a woman named Therese who visits her former all-girl boarding school in France, where she had a passionate romance with a fellow student named Isabelle. Their story is told in flashbacks, which recall the joy and heartbreak of first love. The sex scenes between the girls are handled with care (they're not explicit, but have a very erotic edge to them, nevertheless), and the acting and cinematography are very good. This is definitely worth renting if you're looking for a lesbian-themed film that deals with real emotions and feelings. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Une lesbienne classique embarquement école de cinéma. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member It was an interesting little movie, would have been better in french I am sure, As I think it was a french book originally. The acting wasn't great, but Isabelle was beautiful! The story of the "love" between the two girls seemed more of a small obsession for one another. There was clearly loyalty, but the way it ended, with Isabelle just up and leaving without one word of warning for Therese, made me question her commitment. A more solid review will be up on my blog http://prettydamnandrogynous.blogspot.com/ Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Therese and Isabelle

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Two young women (Essy Persson, Anna Gael) become lovers after unfulfilling and brutal encounters with men.
Director
Radley Metzger
Producer
Radley Metzger
Screenwriter
Violette Leduc, Jesse Vogel
Distributor
First Run, Audubon Films
Production Co
Amsterdam Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
May 14, 1968, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Feb 21, 2006
Runtime
1h 58m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm