The Gymnast (2006)

Sounds pretty good? Mmmm, maybe not."The Gymnast" is, fundamentally, a story of a woman's journey to self. Soon it becomes apparent that the film misses its potential and falls into the Lifetime Movie of the Week genre. Like many others of the breed, it has comfortable elements: the self-involved/disinterested husband; the gregarious shoot-from-the-hip best friend; the not-quite out of the closet beautiful lesbian. If you don't expect it to be more than this, the film delivers. Performances are gentle and non-confrontational, the music soothing and sentimental (though on occasion a bit intrusive, another generic pitfall), the cinematography sensual and flattering. One cannot escape the beauty of the the athleticism and this is where the film captivates. For those who dreaded P.E. class, watching the fusion of pure artistry and physical prowess is an enchanting view of a world both alien and fascinating, like watching breathtakingly beautiful sculptures come to life and fly about the heavens.(Here be spoilers.)Where it may lose you is where it should be at its best: the plot. Holes, gaps and downright lapses may cause verbal outbursts in some viewers. The deus ex machina removal of the third member of the ensemble; the downright gratuitous cell phone photo; the best friend gets drunk and says too much to the one person who can make the dream come true moments just show where the screenwriter falls into banal contrivance. Most blatant is the unbelievable 180 degree turnaround of the husband, with no authentic moment of revelation that would inspire his behavior, This flip of the switch to add dramatic conflict is a narrative belly flop.Make no mistake, there are moments of genuine delight in this story. A trip to Koreatown showcases the chemistry that clearly exists between the two leads and is unique in that it focuses on their cultural differences rather than sexual ones. The truth behind many a woman's late night soak in the tub has not been told this artfully before. The coming out to the parents moment is unmistakably truthful. And as many have stated, the credit sequence is a gratifying dismount.But those flashes of gratification are not enough to add up to a wholly satisfying film, particularly if you are a looking for the next "Desert Hearts". For a gay audience, it misses opportunities and clearly avoids others that allow the best of the straight woman/gay-themed films to remain memorable long after viewing. The elements that began with "Personal Best" and made "Desert Hearts" iconic films and move the genre forward are so clearly missing here that it is, at times, a little heartbreaking. But it is just those missing essentials that are the very things which will allow "The Gymnast" to play in heavy rotation on Logo and be added to the Netfilx queue because without them the film won't ruffle anyone's feathers. To a gay viewer, these omissions stand out like a pierced nipple.

"The Gymnast" unfolds in short shots and short scenes, revealing its characters and message over time. The spare editing is accompanied by a beautiful, simple score. This intimate approach is wonderful for feeling like you're on a path of discovery as much as the characters are.The spare approach is also its drawback; there are a few scenes that are confusing because they don't have enough context. There are some decisions made by the characters that seemed rather flip until I watched the interviews that were in the bonus materials. I'm glad I did, because the actors' descriptions of their motivations gave me a much more well- rounded understanding of the film overall.Aside from the story itself, it was wonderful to see women so comfortable and strong in their own bodies. The shooting was very tastefully done; very matter-of-fact. One has the feeling of seeing a love story and a life story unfold, not a voyeuristic sleaze film. The physicality of the athletes -- their realness -- is a great contrast to the sometimes ethereal nature of the plot.Not a film I'll need to see again anytime soon, since the storyline is simple but its delivery is powerful enough to stay with me for a long time.

This film tackles the subjects of loss, personal struggle and transformation in such a smart, artful, sensitive, and visually stunning way that I was completely transported. It is a rare gem of a film in the way it honors beauty and women. You'll have to see for yourself. Dreya Weber (Jane) masterfully portrays the subtleties of a remarkable if not somewhat broken personality, in a way that every woman will relate to. I found the honesty of the emotional interactions among characters to be very refreshing and profoundly engaging. There was nothing in this film that said to me "low budget" as far as quality is concerned. Nothing. The fact that it is a low-budget film is a tribute to the film's creators. The final sequence during the credits will also knock your socks off. It is a brilliant celebration of Jane's choice. Unexpected and inspiring.

I thought this was a beautiful movie- very brave. Such beautiful imagery-and I liked the use of breaking glasses w/ applause. Also how the best friend repeated the line about "..and she's one year older than me.." showed that their friendship has rekindled and grown, but maybe some competition is left...i loved the footage of hands feeling the fabric. The dance concert was beautiful. The beginning seemed slow, though..it took awhile to feel for the characters-the husband could have been more abusive-he just seemed absent so when other characters talked about him-it didn't really fit. The affair btwn. the best friend and husband seemed random..the doctors meeting seemed to hint that there was not much time left(to live..) so when the infidelity was revealed, I didn't feel as much sympathy for the character-more like relief! the ending was so great- the lines btwn. her and the husband, and the scene where she is pulled over is brilliant!