You Can Live Forever

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1:31

You Can Live Forever

Released May 5, 2023

1h 36m

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

In the early '90s, gay teen Jaime is sent to live with her devout Jehovah’s Witness relatives after the death of her father. Jaime makes an unexpected connection with Marike, daughter of a prominent Witness Elder. The two are instantly drawn to each other, and begin a secret, unspoken romance. But when their attraction becomes too obvious to hide, the community moves to separate the two, forcing them each to make a terrible choice between faith and love.

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Critics Consensus

Narratively subtle and beautifully acted, You Can Live Forever finds soulful drama at the intersection of sexual orientation and religious faith.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

This compassionate story of puppy love – co-written and codirected by the former Witness Sarah Watts – shows more understanding towards the community.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 4, 2023

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

It’s got something of Jeanette Winterson’s tenderness, if not exactly the wit, and the movie is interesting and even faintly subversive in its implied analogies concerning conversion and enclosed behaviour systems.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 12, 2023

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Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

Sweet, gentle, and understated.

May 17, 2023

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Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

There's hope here: hope in the idea that abandoning friendships is still bad and that families, blood or relational, are still the glue holding society together...

Jan 5, 2024

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Jackson Weaver

CBC News

[L]ike so many LGBTQ coming-of-age stories before it, You Can Live Forever is about crushing your heart into a pulp. And, like so many of those, it succeeds — though with an added note of misery.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 16, 2023

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Marie Saadeh

Exclaim!

A film with this plotline has the potential to leave its audience shattered, but You Can Live Forever just leaves us wanting to feel more.

Rated: 5/10

Aug 17, 2023

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Audience Member

Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee thisssssd❤️❤️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/30/24

Full Review

Audience Member

I loved this movie especially the music and how it went quite every time it was just them 2, really hope there is a second movie to finish off the story cos I love it but hate it at the same time if yknow what I mean like I love it but it’s sad but hey no lesbians die so woop woop 🙌

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/09/24

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dzee k

one of the best sapphic film I have watched so far, Although I didn't like how the ending turned out to be, overall it was great. cant stop myself on wanting to watch it over and over again

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/14/23

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Audience Member

It’s mental illness against biological science? It’s box office of merely $18k is a proof of its failure.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/07/23

Full Review

Agustinus S

nice story, picture, epic scenes with well-crafted music. loved it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/09/23

Full Review

Lisa S

Ok I have seen many a WLW movie but this one is special. Amazingly acted by June and Anwen. Let me just say...Anwen, the performance you gave girl...subtle and deep and passionate. How did you not win an award? I'm serious. I have seen you in other roles and you really embraced this character and brought her to life. June is just stunning and so honest as a love interest struggling with her faith. I grew up in a strict religion and this story brought me so much joy and healing for that young girl still inside me. I loved this movie so much I bought it!! I cry every time. Thank you for making such a beautifully written and acted love story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/09/23

Full Review

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Sarah Watts

Director

Mark Slutsky

Director

Anwen O'Driscoll

Jaime

June Laporte

Marike

Jennifer Laporte

Actor

Liane Balaban

Actor

You Can Live Forever: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In the early '90s, gay teen Jaime is sent to live with her devout Jehovah’s Witness relatives after the death of her father. Jaime makes an unexpected connection with Marike, daughter of a prominent Witness Elder. The two are instantly drawn to each other, and begin a secret, unspoken romance. But when their attraction becomes too obvious to hide, the community moves to separate the two, forcing them each to make a terrible choice between faith and love.

Director: Sarah Watts, Mark Slutsky
Producer: Robert Vroom
Screenwriter: Mark Slutsky, Sarah Watts
Distributor: Good Deed Entertainment
Production Co: Prospector Films
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters): May 5, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 5, 2023
Runtime: 1h 36m

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