User reviews

"Loving Annabelle" (2006), co-written and directed by Katherine Brooks, is an attractive film with attractive leads. Basically it's a love story between a student at a Catholic school and her female teacher.

The basic concept of the movie is forbidden love. In this case, the love is forbidden for two reasons--it's lesbian and it's between a student and a teacher. That's the basic plot, and everything else in the film revolves around that.

I just reviewed "Sevigne," a movie about a developing relationship between two women. That film was subtle and nuanced. In my opinion, "Loving Annabelle" is neither. It's fairly predictable from the opening scene. A young woman arrives at a Catholic boarding school under heavy escort. It's obvious that she's not happy to be there, and will defy school authority. Then we see her in class with Simone, a beautiful, intelligent woman teacher. The rest of the plot pretty well follows from that. A weak point is that Simone's boy friend, the third corner of the triangle, is obviously far below Simone's level in every respect--there's no real dramatic tension between her feelings for him and her feelings for Annabelle.

The leads are extremely attractive. (Erin Kelly as Annabelle looks like a young Jane Fonda.) Diane Gaidry as Simone looked right for the part and acted it well. Ms. Gaidry was gracious enough to come to the screening of the movie, which played at ImageOut, the Rochester Gay and Lesbian film festival

Finally, in Rochester, almost the entire audience consisted of lesbian couples. It's sad that heterosexuals in Rochester are not perceptive enough to realize that a film about a lesbian relationship can appeal to viewers of all sexual orientations.

i liked the alternate ending..and i wish it could be true...a nicely acted characters made it a real touchy story..i saw it several time minutely repeating each of its scenes..a perfect one. the director has a great sense of judgment power and hence the result is the 'Loving Annabelle'. after the world unseen by shamim sarif this appears to be a great watch...and yes this movie is a great support to the statement that 'LOVE can happen to any one with any one' what matters is the intensity for love...i just loved Simone Bradley perfections....she is awesome with the title girl...Erin Kelly...much they have talked about but everything was in their eyes..the attraction.passion and madness they created is just mind blowing.i think the director can go with the next part of the same movie as it leaves clues with it and do believe again it will click.

I'll begin this review by saying I didn't dislike this film. It was well acted, and looked very very good for an independent film. I guess I just felt like I knew everything that was going to happen before it did. At the beginning of the movie, the scenes seemed very trite and underdeveloped; after a few lines of dialogue and a couple of cuts, we're abruptly taken away to the next part of the story. Because of this rushed feeling to the movie, I never got to know the supporting characters, who had plenty of potential for further development.

The one thing I find redeeming about this film is the tension that builds between the two leads. The filmmaker does a good job of teasing the audience time and time again, to the point where I just gave up any hope of them getting together. She successfully took the film to a point where she could take one of two routes: they end up together, or they never take that chance. The choice she makes works for the tone of the film, even if the ending is a tad abrupt.

All in all, the filmmaker definitely has talent, I just wish there was less ambiguity in the narrative and more character development.

I'm a woman, straight...{not sure straight or lesbian should have any bearing} but, I found the love scene very arousing and tender! I agree that the intimacy and conflict that the two shared together building up to that moment was what help make that experience so soft and sensual. The struggle you could feel that Simone had with her feelings for Annabelle and then the decision she made to give into those feelings at that moment made my heart ache for her. Putting aside the inner struggle Simone was fighting of wanting to show her love for Annabelle along with the conflict of the student, teacher, relationship that would definitely have legal ramifications, who would want to have to face the grave consequences of making such a professional and moral choice...which struggle only added to the intensity of all the feeling that was unleashed during the consummation and sharing of their deep feelings of love and intimacy one for the other.

It all made me start to think about what it is to really love someone. Not based on gender or orientation, but genuine love for a person for who they are and what they bring out in you as an individual by having a connection with them. I know this is considered a "Lesbian" film,{if you are into labels} but, I can't help but think that there are many individuals who struggle with their connections with others in their intimate relationships, not because they may be "Straight or Lesbian", but because they do not connect on a resonating level of intimacy with the individual with whom they are wanting or trying to connect with. Such as Simone with Michael. Seems she wanted it to work, but it just wasn't there. Does it mean she is a Lesbian because she has loved another woman previously? I don't know...sometimes I'm not sure we get to choose when and who we will connect with on those deeper levels of love. The movie does not suggest that Annabelle has not had male partners before as well. In fact, it kind of leads us to believe she has. I think that this is a great movie that shows we can't always determine who it is we may be drawn toward to resonate on deeper levels of love and intimacy. The movie made me think of the opportunities I may have missed by not being open to nurturing the love I have felt for various individuals, male or female and the individual growth and possibilities that are lost because of not following those loving, tender feelings.

I think all women should see it. Maybe we are all missing some great connections with others because of our fear of being open to love just for the sake of being loving! I'm sure each one of us at some point in our life has experienced on some level the struggles that Simone and Annabelle respectfully face. Not the moral or professional dilemma, but of whether to love or not to love....that truly is the question... isn't it?

Whoever marked this film close to 7 must have been gay. And I am serious here. As movies go, neither the acting nor the plot made any sense. It felt like a student movie about lesbian relationships in catholic schools. I am not saying that the acting was bad, it just didn't add up. And the plot is ludicrous.

I understand this type of movie making when you are talking documentaries or biographies or films based on real events. There you can't really make an interesting and captivating story because you have to stick to history, but not here, especially when the main story is the love between a literature teacher and her student in a classy and expensive private school. One just expects more subtlety, a more elaborate plot, some sort of moral.

Bottom line: one just gets bored watching it. The only way you could possibly enjoy this is if the film relates to a personal story of a similar category, like a crush on a teacher or some forbidden girl love episode. If this film meant something for the movie maker, it certainly did not manage to relay the same feelings to the viewer.

After hearing the "buzz" surrounding this movie, I finally got my chance to see Loving Annabelle at its premiere in San Jose this weekend (hooray for my girlfriend for scoring tickets to the sold out show!) I've never written a review before but I really dig this movie, so I will do my best! My initial reaction after watching was....they finally got it right, more specifically, writer Katherine Brooks got it right.

I've never really been a fan of "lesbian" movies because I could never get into the story lines or characters; they've all seemed a bit over the top. The only movie I could actually relate to up until now was "All Over Me" If you haven't seen it...go rent it!! Loving Annabelle is such a straightforward love story that fortunately doesn't involve lesbian circus performers or travelin' hippie painters. It's an amazing, well-written story that I can relate to being the product of Catholic schooling. The best part...the super hot sex scene! Now, now yes it was HOT but I loved it because like the movie, it to was straightforward, passionate, necessary. Thank god there weren't any crazy camera angles, I mean lesbians have sex!! so thank you Katherine Brooks for not showing just a hand run up and down a body...that would have been sooo boring and unrealistic!! I give this movie 2 thumbs way up for giving me something I can relate to, for being such a straightforward story about love, letting go, putting happiness first, etc.

Now as an added bonus, since it was the premiere I was able to nervously chat with writer/director Katherine Brooks and the 2 leads (ALL HOT by the way) and they were all so super cool so it makes the movie that much more enjoyable

The film and athmospher was good. The characters are realistic. But I want my gay movie to reach a good conclusion. They did everything right but the director apparently got afraid and made a final scene less than desired.

The interaction between two girls were awesome. The lead actress unfortunately lost her life, but her portrayal of the good teacher is awesome. I myself am not gay, but I always support friends like that. Why is everything gets into homophobia? We live that enough in the real life. Give us something good for ending.

The other lead girl is absolutely charming. I would really like her whatever my identity is. She is so natural. Music is good. Scenes are very well lighted and give the ambience perfectly.

The premise immediately recalls the 1931 classic 'Mädchen in uniform,' while the updated, modern setting readily portends a certain amount of low-grade cheese, as so often happens in such cases. Slick, crisp production values, a contemporary soundtrack, and the writing of the chief characters and their interactions all point to an unrepentant, campy lesbian romance. Gratifyingly, all these things are more or less true, and 'Loving Annabelle' is pretty entertaining overall.

It goes without saying that the queer subtext in films of many decades past - 1931, or even 1958 - was so heavily minimized as to be downplayed into nonexistence. Here, filmmaker Katherine Brooks totally dispenses with all pretense. While she lets the romance develop slowly and (relatively) organically, the intent is clear from the outset, and emphasized with every concrete line of dialogue or slight touch, nevermind the eventual realization. To their credit, stars Erin Kelly and Diane Gaidry have great on-screen chemistry, and ably give life to their characters' emotions and conflicts. This is hardly to speak ill of the rest of the cast, either, who I think are just fine.

Brooks surprisingly follows, very loosely, the narrative thrust of 'Annabelle's' source of inspiration. With the actualization of a relationship that's only scarcely suggested in that earlier story, the consequences upon its discovery are also far greater. After all - anyone watching this is here for the lesbian representation, but there's no ignoring the dire impropriety of the central relationship between adult teacher and teenage student. And I'm surprised again that Brooks chooses to end her film on a down note. On the one hand it's refreshing, given how many movies at large rush to resolve the plot and see the audience to the door with an often ham-handed happy ending. But on the other hand, it's depressing, and still more so for the lack of especially well-made features where an LGBTQ romance is allowed to exist, at the conclusion, sans drama.

The technical craft is swell. With especial care of course written into Annabelle and Simone, characters are as mostly complete and well-rounded as they need to be, while still allowing the cast some small room to embody the roles as they will. The narrative absolutely makes use of genre tropes, but like I said - from the very start, any half-aware viewer should already be anticipating a measure of kitsch. The end result is a film that, if imperfect, is an unexpectedly solid update of an old classic. There are things I'd liked to have played out different, but 'Loving Annabelle' is suitably enjoyable, and worth a look if you come across it.

Diversity, Dissimilarity, love, acceptance, freedom = power, control, prejudice, hatred, murder, destruction… our enlightened universe.

The Lesbian subject matter is not the important aspect of this film – live and let live is. We all share the responsibility to create a place of reasonability and understanding. … I do not agree with the author's adult/teenager setting; it is an inappropriate vehicle for exploring what I would call a very important aspect of prejudice in our society.

As far as character examination, motivation and plot the writing seemed a little light and the story just too typical. The acting was fair and I believe the reason for it was simply because there was not enough depth or exploration of events in their lives yielding their motivations; the actors simply did not have enough to act on. We never found out much about Annabelle's life as the rebellious daughter of a US Senator. There seemed to be some sort of history between Simone and the principle. Some additional historical shots of Simone's first relationship would have strengthened the performance … If you compare this screenplay to the likes of the writing employed in JUNO ... well.

In spite of this observation what the author is saying is important and this story must be told and retold in the many forms where prejudices rear their ugly heads until there is no longer a need for it.

I do have one question: the license plates, when Simone was taken away, read GOVERNMENT and not police? FBI, CIA, NSA… since Annabelle was the daughter of a very powerful US Senator will we ever see Simone again?

I just watched loving Annabelle, and i do not understand how it has been rated so highly. It lacks so much a film should be to make it great. OK its a lesbian film, fantastic there should be more of them, but this is not a good film just because its made by a lesbian for lesbians. The plot is thin and obvious, the acting is good and would of been so much better if there had been something they could work with. I have read lots of things about this film watched interviews and clips about how long it took to make and get realised and finished...i was expecting something more, something good. All i got was the film that is out there....throughly disappointed. Believe me i never comment on the internet on films and stuff because, you know, its peoples choice to like it or not to. But this film has let me down in what it claimed to be, so i had to say something for others to read.

Ceri

The look of Loving Annabelle is very classic. The 35mm film looks glossy and the colors are crisp. The film LOOKS pretty. The story also has a classic 3-act structure and is very well-written. These traditional aspects are really interesting to note since the subject of the film is rather modern. The "unconventional" love story turns many notions on their heads: student-teacher sexual relations; the possible effects of a Catholic school upbringing or environment on an individual; and same-sex love, if anyone out there is still bigoted enough to take offense to that.

What I liked about the film was that it was character-driven, and not plot-driven. The emotional growth of the characters took center stage to the possibly sensational aspects. I felt carried along the storyline without any forced-ness or jumps in thought. The plot line was smooth, and had enough twists and turns to keep me from knowing what would happen next. I totally identified with the main characters and cared about them (individually) very deeply besides my interest in whether or not they would get together.

The look of the film, the quality of the story, and the TERRIFIC acting (both Annabelle and Simone are perfectly cast) give Loving Annabelle the depth and sheen of a much higher-budget film. (Though the emotional resonance of the story makes talking about budgets almost crass.) The music is also terrific. The soundtrack would be great to listen to as its own entity. This is the film that I've most enjoyed in a long time and have recommended it highly to anyone who will listen to me since I first saw it.

I don't look at this as a lesbian film, although it is, but as a film about love.

The entire movie was a set up to the last 10 minutes. You could see the magic between Annabelle (Erin Kelly) and Simone (Diane Gaidry). Even though Simone fought it because of her position, it was apparent that it was going to be a losing battle, as Annabelle was just too strong and too convinced that her feeling were the real thing.

Love. Everything else we do in life is just a prelude to finding it. Some never do. When it happens, nothing else matters.

This was a beautiful film.

This movie was a mediocre film, the storyline was okay but I think it's the two main characters that made this film special. Although there were a lot of problematic things in their relationship, I believe that the two actresses did a wonderful job of portraying a forbidden relationship. The pace of the movie wasn't bad as well, as it didn't seem too slow or too rushed. However, I think the ending was a bit predictable because of the nature of their relationship. This is a film where I will definitely miss the characters thought, because their acting and relationship was phenomenal I would never forget it easily.

Generally speaking, I'm not a big fan of romance movies; or at least not 'straight' romance movies (meaning films that follow a set structure, not anything regarding sexuality). If I'm going to like a romance movie, it really needs to have a twist; and while this film does follow a set formula and it's always clear where it's going; the fact that the two leads are female, as well as the fact that their romance is forbidden due to their 'professional' relationship and not to mention the religious themes means that director Katherine Brooks' debut feature has just about enough to distance itself from the mainstream. The film takes place in a Catholic school and the story begins with the arrival of new student Annabelle. She makes it clear soon enough that she's not happy to merely fit in with the rest of the girls and soon she focuses her attention on sexy older woman and teacher Simone Bradley. Once it becomes clear that they have chemistry, the younger girl then proceeds to pursue the older until the inevitable dramatic conclusion.

I cant say that this film is perfect; a plot like this is always going to rely a lot on coincidence and the way that the characters are laid out is not particularly inventive and the role each of the main players is going to play is as obvious as where the plot is going from the outset. In spite of this, however, Loving Annabelle works as both a slice of light entertainment and a touching love story. The writer/director seems keen to try and make a point out of the story and largely does succeed in getting us behind the main characters to get what she wants to say across. That's not to say that the film is particularly life-affirming, however. The director has a history of directing stuff for MTV, so unsurprisingly this film is a rather glossy affair, although it is well acted and well directed with lead actresses Erin Kelly and Diane Gaidry making an impression. I'm probably not the only straight male who went into this film hoping for some steamy lesbian sex, and while we are made to wait for it and the 'pay off' is over rather quickly; the lesbian sex scene is skilfully shot and works well within the context of the movie. Loving Annabelle is an impressive debut overall and while it probably will not ever have mass market appeal; if you have a mind to seek it out, you probably won't leave disappointed.