Drole De Felix [2000]

Amazon.co.uk Review

If the idea of a French, subtitled, gay, soul-searching road film doesn't exactly sound like your cup of tea, think again: Drole de Felix is a film that will transcend any barrier. Felix of the title is a young, gay French Arab who decides to travel south from Normandy to Marseilles in search of the father who abandoned him before he was born. His journey (mainly by hitchhiking but also by slightly less legal means) forms the bulk of the film's storyline, combined with a handful of characters who become brief but important parts of his life. Sami Bouajili carries the film magnificently, switching effortlessly from the lighter, comedic moments (of which there are many, including a surprising amount regarding the character's HIV-positive status) to Felix's search for self. There is a rather unnecessary subplot concerning a witnessed murder, but even it has a moving conclusion. On paper, perhaps, not the most enticing of prospects, Drole de Felix is, in it's own quiet way, a gem. --Phil Udell

Customer Reviews:

awful.......2007-09-20

Completely lacking in warmth and sensuality.Actors all seem uncomfortable in their bodies and with any scenes of intimacy.The worst gay film we've watched so far.Don't bother,theres far better.

Hooray! A good 'gay' film........2007-07-14

'Drole de Felix' is a rarity - a gay-themed film that actually has warmth, good humour, a decent story and strong performances. Also, the 'gayness' isn't the be-all and end-all of the characters' lives. They're much more three-dimensional than that.

Highly recommended, especially if you're sick of buying 'gay' films only to discover they feel as if they were written by monkeys and filmed on a camcorder by a bunch of sixth-formers hoping for a quick cash-in.

good road movie about self discovery.......2006-03-04

While this is an enjoyable movie I was disappointed that more time was allocated to the scenes with straight characters. The acting is good and the scenery is interesting, however from the reviews I read I expected a good gay road movie about self discovery but it is more like a good road movie about self discovery and the main character just happens to be gay and HIV positive. At least there is one brief scene where Felix and the guy on the DVD cover emerge naked from the bushes to qualify this movie to be filed under "gay" on your DVD shelf.

The Adventures of Felix lives up to its title.......2001-06-16

Felix, a happy-go-lucky gay man, loses his job as a ferry worker (because of the Chunnel) in the north of France and decides to find his father, whom he has never met, in the south by hitchhiking through the countryside, agreeing to meet his lover, who will travel by train, at journey's end. Along the way he meets an assortment of interesting, unsusual characters (one segment being called "My Younger Brother") who reaffirm his journey.

Felix himself is gay in both senses, despite dealing with a host of pills for HIV. His humor and sunny disposition light up a lighthearted film.

Highly recommended.

Customer Reviews:

A parody even worse than the originals ever were!.......2008-02-25

This movie is an attempt to parody the science-fiction and horror movies of the 1950s. Unfortunately, the result is much worse than the movies that it attempts to imitate. According to the DVD commentary, the actors had to work at being 'bad', but the result is beyond bad: it is truly awful, and never in the least bit 'funny' or even 'amusing' (not even unintentionally). The only reason that this movie receives one star is that Amazon does not permit awarding zero stars.

UK DVD:

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UK DVD