Friends (1971)

When it appeared in movie theaters around 1971, I went to see "Friends" many times. Apparently, the music and the movie had their impact on me because when I got married in 1973, my wife-to-be and I used "Michelle's theme" (Cast a pebble on the water...) for our wedding music along with "None but the Lonely Hearts" by Tchaikovsky! Later, I saw the sequel "Paul and Michelle" which was also quite good if not a bit sad at the end. But "Friends" is sad at the end, too.Now I am 63 years old and came across "Friends" on Amazon and bought it in streaming video. (The sequel is available on DVD region 0 so it plays on any DVD Player...just Google "Paul and Michelle" DVD). "Friends" on DVD is region 2 so it will not play on American DVD's and the video tape is extremely rare. I just bought it!"Friends" and "Paul and Michelle" remain Anicee's best work. I feel that in later movies, she was exploited because of her physical beauty in silly scripts with gratuitous nudity. I have read that there were those who tried to cast her as a "sex bomb".Sean Bury who played Paul announced some very sad news. Anicee Alvina passed away of lung cancer in 2006. She was born on January 28, 1953. Anicee was 53. However, she was always sweet and CUTE. She was a good singer... May she rest in the arms of God.

My girlfriend and I saw this movie when it was originally released. The controversy that surrounded the original release (teen nudity, physical intimacy and unwed pregnancy) were subjects that never touched our view of the film. We were close to the same age as Paul and Michelle and were experiencing many of the same intense and confusing emotions. We were too young to get caught up in the simplistic (at times) acting and the corny (at times) emotional twists. This movie spoke to us in a way that an adult love story never could have. I still remember sitting in the movie theater with my girlfriend and holding her hand while she cried during the tragic (albiet syrupy) final scenes.

Perhaps the most concerning thing about this film is the way many reviewers only see it as controversial, because it deals with young love. Also the ideals it sets out are how we would like to see the world, but are often prevented from doing so.Get past all this and you have a simple story of a boy and girl, who become friends and develop into lovers; but mostly outside of society's rules. While they pay lip service to certain conventions, they don't allow the rules to control their daily lives. The need for money requires the boy to get a job, but beyond this they live an idealistic existence in the beautiful surroundings of the Camargue.If you don't get a warm feeling while watching this film, then you have a cynicism that will spoil any innocent storyline. This may not be the Hollywood blockbuster that makes a lot of money, but it's one of those films whose story is very relevant at any time.

Well what do you know, I was painting my house today and an Elton john song came on the radio, which immediately took me back to this movie which i saw in 1971. So long ago and so far away. Ten years later i hitched hiked through the country side of France, and i sure would have been keen to see Michelle. The film is probably not very sophisticated by todays standards, more's the pity, but it seemed rather racy back then. A few years later a sequel was made with Michelle living in a high rise in Paris and Paul coming back to meet her, just like life they had moved on, the film was very downbeat. Still the original was fab, and if you can get a copy go rent it, just remember to give it its' due and treat it gently. I note Americans can be rather prudish, so take note, contains scenes and themes possibly upsetting to middle America.