IslandGuru Who payed the critics

Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

bplatte11 Okay, it's sweet it really is, them trying to make a cute little flick about two girls falling in love. But, here's the thing, just because we're lesbians doesn't mean we fall in love after a few brief conversations and a little sexually frustrated fueled sexy times. First of all what kind of person is expected to fall in love with a love story about intentionally breaking hearts for the sake of one selfish relationship. Frida pursued Mia pretty aggressively after that first kiss, knowing damn well she had a nice, loving fiancé. And then! And then we find out she had her out doting girlfriend all along! What? Was that supposed to be a little plot twist? Because that just made me disrespect her even more. On top of all the cheating going on for a little lustfilled night with a stranger who was soon to be a step-sister, we come to find out they've both been negatively affected by cheating. Which makes me think that their whole attitude towards their tryst is completely out of character.Then frida goes a little coo coo kachoo arguing with Mia about being in love with the man she is supposed to marry all because they had one semi-romantic weekend?That's not someone I want representing me and my lesbianess in the media.And can I just say, Mia didn't even cut her nails for Frida. That's not love, my friends. The acting was sub-par and the plot was really just a subtle twist on a story that's been retold a hundred times. (How many lesbian movies do I have to watch where the girl with the boyfriend/fiancé/husband falls in love with a cute, Care-free girl, but doesn't want to accept it?) It's tired and played out.I didn't even want to watch the rest because their entire relationship thereafter is based off of a start I think it absurd....sexy or not. Honestly, I thought the parents' subplot was more interesting and real than Mia and Frida's. Their relationship and arguments seemed much more legitimate.

Dawn There were a couple things I like about this movie. One, that the lesbian character is in a relationship. Way too many of these straight-woman-in-a-relationship stories have the lesbian hanging out in an isolated world where, of course, she MUST convert a straight woman to her ways in order to have a lover. By taking that factor out, we can more easily believe Frida and Mia like each other, because they like each other. My second winning thing about the movie, Mia's bisexuality as a factor. Once that "comes out", it adds a layer to things that again helps makes this less about 'the only two that could must be' . Only this comes out WAY too late in the film. Life is complicated, but film's should unfold in a linear fashion where the viewer can justify character's actions along the way and if you show me a woman having sex (and seeming to enjoy it) with her man and then half way through the film have herself throw herself at a woman - then damn near run away from it. I'm still thinking she's a woman who's thought herself straight up to now and this 'new' emotion is causing conflict, fine, I'm on that journey with the character. Then to say 'hey, I've actually known I might be bisexual for awhile' feels like a cheat. I shouldn't have to re-watch the movie with the intent of redefining that character journey. There are twist and there are cheats, this just felt like a cheat. A lesbian movies that pulled off the questioning female with a past relationship well was 'Loving Annabelle' - as much as that was about the build to a love scene it at least was a logical build to a a love scene. It set up a character reluctant to deal with conflicts in her perception of her own sexuality really early in the film with simple visual clues to a pre-existing relationship.The thing that really turned me off about this film was the lack of respect for existing relationships. To have the feelings and walk the fine line of what to do with them is one thing - and great dramatic tension. Throwing people under the bus because there's a jones in your crotch is another. I think 'Imagine, Me, & You' did this particular bit about a thousand times better as did 'When Night is Falling'. In 'Imagine', in addition to developing a relationship between the characters for me to root for, I freakin' loved Heck. I didn't want him hurt and I respected Luce, because she didn't want to hurt him either. In 'When Night is Falling' Petra is aggressive in putting her interest for the other woman out there, but respects whatever line she draws in the sand - she also has NO relationship with the character's boyfriend. So while there is an affair present there, as in this film. Her mother isn't marrying the other character's father (as in Kyss Mig) or they haven't hung out and had dinner together (as in Imagine Me & You). Frida just doesn't seem to care how this affects other people. Frida not only had no issue with seducing her future Step-Father's daughter, she threw her girlfriend under the bus. And she'd had a longer relationship with the father than she had with Mia. Yet, she aggressively pursues Mia despite the stress it might put on her mother's relationship with Mia's father, who she allegedly likes. I never got over thinking Frida was a jerk for the way she treated those characters. And poor Tim. So he was picky about where they lived and had some grand opinions on there wedding. The dude wasn't a bad guy and it seemed like the movie wanted me to believe he was. Yeah, he gets aggressive once in bed, but he backs off when he realizes she's not into it. Also, if Frida and mom and new step-dad were all thrilled to have Tim around, why wasn't Elin hanging out with the fam? He obviously doesn't mind that Frida is gay as she isn't his daughter. They blatantly say this in the film. So if lovers are being invited to the table and Frida and step-dad get along so well, Elin's absence seems quite odd. Another slap in the face viewer 'cheat' early in the film is not revealing the lover exist earlier in the film. And what was the point of not even speaking Elin's name? Hiding Frida's sexuality until later in the film? She's practically undressing Mia with her eyes in the first two seconds, attraction, I get it. She likes girls. There's no value in hiding the girlfriend from the viewer, even if you hide it from Mia so she can have her 'so you like girls moment'. Also once you find out Mia is aware of her own bisexuality, all these moments feel a little like lies to the viewer. I bought sexual confusion in 'Loving Annabelle' (thin as plot was there) way more than I bought it here. The two women the film wanted me to root for were such horrible unfeeling people to their lovers in this film, the people and relationship I rooted for was the one between the parents. That stood the greatest test and showed far more character.

itgirlx This film deserves more than one viewing, in fact, watch it a few times and see if you don't find yourself swept away by its many charms. Much of what goes unspoken in dialog is expressed in the subtlety of the the superb performances by Liv Mjönes, Ruth Vega Fernandez and the stellar supporting cast. Swedish superstar Lena Endre, so enamored of this production, became one of the films producers. The story's strength, sensitive writing and direction by Alexandra-Therese Keining brought together an ensemble of Sweden's finest actors for this relatively low budget indy film. Another thing to keep in mind, for America audiences in particular, is this film portrays European culture which has sensibilities pronouncedly different in the expression of day-to-day human interactions than their American counterparts. How these differences play out on film is quieter and more complex than your typical rom-com or American style drama. What goes unspoken is caught and translated within the context of every expression in every frame of film. The gorgeous cinematography and lushly sublime score adds subtext to every scene, while light and color underscore the blossoming of true love.The fresh-faced, no make-up, every-day hair and simplicity of style, lends an authenticity which engages one into the story and lets you feel the characters in every scene. Character development and the pure talent of the supporting cast, (Krister Henriksson, Lena Endre, Joakim Nätterqvist, Tom Ljungman and producer actress Josephine Tengblad) add a layer of complexity that rounds out and fills in the on-screen canvas. Mia's anxiety is palpable and her outbursts make one as nervous as if she were sitting next to you, all the while Frida's inexorable charm and playfulness fills you with the giddiness of first love which turns out be the real story of this film. Oh, and the on-screen chemistry between Frida and Mia is a breath-taking testament to great casting and inspired performance.So, watch "Kiss Me" again with a fresh eye, trained for how much can be said in a single look or gestures ripe with context, subtext and beautifully delivered one word lines like, "Absolut" or "Precis." Notice how that makes you feel, then remember when you found that brand of magic in your own life--or go out and find it.

keepthingswhole Wow. Somehow I doubt that words can express how much I have enjoyed watching this film, but I simply must give it a go.The story starts with the celebration of Lasse and Elisabeth's engagement. Having found each other late in life, Lasse brings two adult children into the marriage, the youngest of which, Oskar, already has connected beautifully with Elisabeth's daughter, Frida. When Lasse's daughter Mia joins the party alongside her fiancé Tim, we immediately feel she is quite the unpolished element in the newly-composed family. It doesn't take very long however before we realize how she is going to blend in.Mia and Frida's first impressions of each other are exposed solely through body language. The secret looks they throw at each other radiate mutual curiosity, but whereas this curiosity is clearly of the welcoming kind on Frida's part, it is shrouded in a cloud of inexplicable caution on Mia's part. For the time being, that is. And this is the only scene in which I grew a little too aware of my own willing suspension of disbelief: the first kiss. Five extra minutes to waltz us to the moment where Mia lets her guard down would have been nice. Whereas the kissing scene makes it clear that Mia's initial reluctance to get to know her stepsister was fueled by self-protection and not aversion, it would have been so much more powerful if we also got to see what exactly had caused the sudden turnaround. One might attribute it to Frida's undeniable charm, her dazzling smiles and hypnotic gazes in the scenes running up to that precious moment, but then, she did not exactly save these up for those first private encounters. Rewind and you will notice that Frida wasn't any less endearing the very first moment you laid eyes on her. Or when Mia did, for that matter.From there on, the storytelling is pretty much flawless: the gradual and natural unraveling of two people who cannot stay away from each other and who eventually have to deal with the obstacles that prevent them from being together permanently. Sure, the final scene does reek a little of Hollywood, but thank god for a film that deals with same sex attraction and that does not end in total disaster! Generally speaking though, the film has quite a realistic feel about it, which probably has a lot to do with the performances. I don't know what it is that makes some couples work on the big screen and others not, but this couple definitely works. Works as in fireworks.Which brings me to the actors. Ruth Vega Fernandez as the beautiful tormented Mia, Lena Endre as the wise and caring mother, and Krister Henriksson as the-not-so perfect-that-it-almost-makes-him-perfect father are outstanding. But Liv Mjönes's portrayal of Frida is divine. It is impossible not to fall in love with those storytelling eyes, those quirky gestures and priceless renderings of trivial words like 'ja', 'absolut', 'precis' and, a little less everyday, 'vebab.'The amount of attention given to the subject of sexuality perfectly mirrors European present day society. Especially for the older generation, it's okay to be gay as long as you're far away. If it affects their inner circle, they will need to go through a small crisis before reaching the okay stage. All in all, it is still the case that, despite all the progress that was made, one cannot be gay without being explicitly defined as such. In short, 'Kyss Mig' is a wonderful film about love in contemporary European society. It is intelligently written and beautifully shot; a feast for the eye and balsam for the soul. Also, did I mention it has Liv Mjönes in it?