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120 Battements Par Minute (French) [120 Beats Per Minute]

If you don’t get teary-eyed and sentimental and emotional after watching this film, I don’t know what else will make you feel that way. I have seen multiple movies that show us the reality of what AIDS epidemic was like and how people suffered but I have to say this is one of the better ones. Yes, the film is long and very wordy, but its worth it. The 140-minute duration of the film helps give the audience a good look at several characters, their history, their past,  sharing a proximity in different ways and their interactions with each other. In a film which is full of many delights, is so active and engaging, whose finale in every way earns its deeply emotional payoff, nothing can beat the beauty of the last ten minutes, which see life carrying on in all its former charm and banality.

The film actually shows us the dramatic few years of ACT UP Paris, a direct action AIDS advocacy group. We are introduced to various participants, how the meetings are held, protests planned, actions taken, debates ensured but at the same time we see the diversity of the group and the people affected by AIDS. Thibaut is the head of the group who i always trying to keep a balance and lead the discussions with government officials and pharmaceutical companies. A teenager boy and his mother are another passionate factors in the group. Over the course of the film and after almost more than an hour, we realize that film focuses on two main characters: Sean and Nathan. Sean is HIV+ and slowly developing AIDS. He has been in the group for a while and very actively is fighting against the government and the pharmaceutical companies. Nathan is new to the group but very son realizes the social and political landscape of the whole thing. Nathan eventually falls in love with Sean for his spirit and wants to be with him and take care of him. This happens sooner than either of them imagined since Sean’s health goes form bad to worse and eventually the worse happens.

From a story perspective, it may feel by reading above that there is not much to it but believe me, there is a whole lot of stuff going on in the film. A large part of the film focusses on ACT UP Paris and their meetings and discussions. Among their many goals, they seek to combat the French government’s silent indifference toward gays and lesbians, drug users and others affected by HIV and AIDS, and to call out the dishonesty of pharmaceutical firms withholding potentially life-saving new treatments from those who could most stand to benefit. Its like watching a real meeting happening where the debates are confrontational and members are outspoken. Balloons full of fake blood are hurled at government officials and pharmaceutical executives. Meetings and conferences are disrupted. Demonstrators lie down in the street like corpses. Friendships form, dancing in clubs happen to de-stress and of course sex. But overall, I can’t even fathom the efforts that our previous generation has taken to get us to a point of where we are today. And then when we focus on the main protagonists, Sean has this charismatic eloquence about him and fierce logic that instantly attracts the hunky yet quiet and shy Nathan towards him. Their love story is so real, honest, sometimes funny and very very heart-breaking to watch. The tender love-making moments, how delicately they understand their HIV status makes for a wonderful watch. It is hard to separate personal and political differences. The scenes between the 2 men, from two almost healthy individuals to where Sean’s health deteriorates while Nathan helplessly just taking care chokes you. The worse thing is that these guys and many others like these are only in their 20s. All the hospital scenes, the talks between the two guys are splendid. The performances are top notch and I have to give full marks to all the actors, screenplay and the director to make such an awesome awe-inspiring film. While the running time may seem long it is understandable when seen in context with the emotionally powerful last quarter of the film.

The film shows how this disease claimed so many young lives within a society that for the most part did not care about their plight and stigmatised them because they were gay, had AIDS, and/or did not like their sexual practices. There are many many many scenes in the film that will stay with you and will haunt you and make you think. I would really encourage to have some patience and watch this film. Trust me, you will be thankful for a lot of things including the fact that you are alive, hopefully healthy and at a stage where you can appreciate what life has given you. (9/10)

Comments

luigi43 said…
Great movie : not a doc , a real film : full of rage , sad . The sweetest, brave mother never seen .
Je vien de le voir , and used at least two packs of kleenex ( not included in the rent ).
Golu said…
"not included in the rent" hahahhha
You made me laugh so hard !
Michaelcosm said…
Wow, I totally loved this film. I saw it maybe 3 or 4 days ago and it's been in my head ever since. It was obvious from the very first scene that I was seeing something special but it wasn't until a day or two later that I realized what a magnificent achievement it really was. The delicate balance between the internal politics of the Act Up group, AIDS policies with in the French government and drug companies, and the love story between the two leads could easily have become heavy handed or uneven in some way but it was handled to perfection.

And you're right about the wordiness. I'd like to do something that I would normally consider blasphemy and rewatch it just once with English language audio turned on in order to be able to take in the scenes and watch the characters' faces without having to be focused on the bottom of the frame for so much of the running time.
Golu said…
lol... blasphemy is the right word. Watching a movie dubbed is the worse thing. But I'd be curious to know your thoughts, if you actually end up watching the film again with English audio. This film is a gem
Michaelcosm said…
Yeah, as a rule, watching dubbed versions of films is totally offensive to thinking persons everywhere (unless we're talking about Japanese monster movies from the 60s & 70s -- in which case, it's a must). But here the words are flying especially fast and, if you're not careful, you'll miss the verbal/visual synergy films of this depth can offer.

For instance, in one of the final protest scenes, when all the characters are lying on the ground in death poses, there's a look shared between Nathan and Max, a nod to the pain they both share because of another character's health difficulties. It's a devastatingly sad moment -- made moreso because they smile at one another -- but it's also a fleeting one. And I almost missed it because of reading the speech Thibault is giving.

What a good movie.
Golu said…
I agree 100% about the film and the fact thats its totally disrespectful to see not see film sin their original language.
ramin said…
I saw 120 bpm and jonas during the past 2 days.and you all definitely can guess how I feel.
Golu said…
You are having a good run and lucky for watching some real good films
As a french native and citizen, I guess this movie has even more meaning for me, as I can recall this period, although I am just 42. Act up was (and still is) seen as a controversial movement. I see it as a powerful testimony for further generations, and a reminder that despite modern treatments, AIDS is still an uncurable disease.
Perfect acting and dialogues, every minute is worth watching. Even people with no heart will be moved by this movie.
Golu said…
Exactly. Even people with no heart will love the film.
PS: I am excatly same as your age. ;)
Sailor Maan said…
Oh my what a movie. It stays with you for sure. What I like is that it's not only depressing as it could have been , there is also a lot of energy and hope coming out of it.
The movie was broadcast yesterday on french tv followed by a programme where was interviewed the guy who was the leader of act up back then (Thibault in the movie, the movie is partly based on his story). And all is well for him in 2020. It was so heartwarming to see that their energy and hopes have paid for some of them at least.
Golu said…
oh wow!1 That interview must have been fab!!
I am glad you saw it

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