The Gymnast

"The Gymnast," released in 2006, is an artful film, in which the two talents at the top combine the skilled, nuanced artistry of disciplines for which other films could employ nine separate artists! Ned Farr wrote the screenplay, directed, edited, and wrote seven of the songs in the film's soundtrack. But the film was a tour de force for its star, Dreya Weber, who also produced, created the aerial choreography, and was the film's stunt coordinator! If you were counting, Weber not only acted superbly, she also performed her own aerial-gym routines--remarkably, especially given her age, admirable for the story's character and the person in reality. She'll make most of you want to throw out the contents of your refrigerator and cabinets and run around the block a few hundred times, swinging from low-hanging tree limbs along the way, or wish that you could, or at least ask yourself, "Where is the Dreya Weber Workout Routine DVD anyway?" But there is, here in 2011, a "new," ceiling-suspended exercise fad called, "anti-gravity yoga," or "cocooning," which gives no credit to "The Gymnast," or aerialist athletes who more likely than not are the chrysalis for this adapted exercise form.Weber has a history of creating and performing in dazzling aerial choreographs for entertainment's elite headliners and for shows that reach as high as the White House, so the impressive routines she devised for the film are not nearly as surprising as her athletic and performing skills, which were also those of a seasoned professional. Weber's athletic preparation for this role actually began in training for her collegiate career, where she was an All American gymnast and Eastern Conference champion, and later on, a trapeze artist. In the film, Weber plays "Jane," a world-class athlete who, in her competitive youth, was favored to win national titles and Olympic metal, until she tore her Achilles tendon.Talented Addie Yungmee co-stars, as "Serena," and as with Weber, Yungmee is also an outstanding athlete, actor, and a dancer, the more artful of the two, giving way to Weber's greater strength. These weighted attributes were also inherent in the characters and pointed out early in the story by actor Mam Smith's character, "Nicole," the adult-gym instructor who recognizes Jane during a visit to her gym and brings her together with Serena, stating the goal after introducing them, which was also a facet of the story's goal: to meld the strengths of the two into a unified artwork, and for Jane, to form the path to a new life with new challenges and rewards.Farr's direction and writing are superb, never heavy handed or awkward. And, oh, was it mentioned that this is a film indicated in many quarters to be a lesbian device? That is about as apparent as its place in this review, because you first have to get past the involvement with the characters' lives, which is drawing, apart from their sexuality, and you're taken in by the sheer beauty of the leading actors and their art before their sexuality has any chance to rear its head. But that sexuality is another facet that develops, naturally, and which is as understated as the good taste of refined partners would demand, and which unlike so many lesbian films, is entirely without the halting reproaches and clumsiness with which most initial encounters into the sensual initiation of same-sex contact are portrayed.The fine performances of all the lesser roles are pepper to the tamale, with David De Simone's portrayal, as Jane's husband, believable at both ends of an extreme, though if any weakness of the film were to be pointed out, it would be the abruptness with which the script brings his character from one extreme to the other. The film is dedicated to De Simone's memory.I'd never heard of this film, or of Weber, or Farr, stumbling upon it in a trailer short from another film that touched upon lesbianism, one of many disappointments I'd watched, searching for gold, and hoping "The Gymnast" would fulfill, especially since films based in sport, like "Stick It," and theater, like "Burlesque," are favorites for me, and "The Gymnast" brought it home in so many surprising ways, making that sometimes sleazy slog through the rest worthwhile. After watching it, it was not at all surprising to learn that the film received 28 U.S. and international awards at festivals, including many audience and jury awards, as well as accolades for the performers.I also loved "Burlesque," another film about strong women with story based in the arts, which starred Cher and Christina Aguilera, and it occurred to me that Weber's film has a parallel to that: Weber's character to Cher's as Yungmee's to Aguilera's, though, more than that, I would love to see Weber and Cher do a film story based in music and the arts together. It might happen, since Cher once hired Weber to choreograph and perform in the aerials for her tour. It might be the only way either of them can top their respective performances in "The Gymnast" and "Burlesque." But Weber joins with Ned Farr again, four years later, in her latest film, "A Marine Story," which is also critically acclaimed and is now on top of my "to see" list.And here's a tip: you definitely do NOT want to turn off the player when the credits begin to roll, because this is where the film will begin to draw more smiles as it so creatively tells another little story to cleverly bring the film full circle with its opening scene. Speaking of which, after that, the Weber-Farr short film, "The Catcher," and the "making of" documentary in the DVD's special features are more pearls well worth diving for.

Found this movie from another movie preview. I liked it

The movie is kind of slow, so if you are not used to this kind of tempo in films refrain from seeing it. You will grow desperate very soon. However, if this is not an issue for you, it is a good movie that you can really enjoy.It's quite interesting to see how this woman in her early 40's if faced with a promising new life that can take her away from her loveless marriage. The husband is so self-centered and so self-satisfying that it's nauseating. He treats her like some cornered furniture in the house. You can really tell how miserable she is, but I don't think she realizes about it until the door to a new life is opened. Before she starts practicing this acrobatics with the other ladies, she was just comfortably uncomfortable. But once she gets started and hooked on the gymnastics, she's in her element and loves every minute of it. You can tell this is her true long lost passion. She literally comes back to life.Life also reunites her with an old acquaintance, love and opportunity knock on her door. She is all set. The plot is good, and the story truly is about hanging on and letting go. It's about being fully present in life as opposed to living life in automatic pilot. It's about coping with ones fears, and finding the courage to take true leaps of faith in life. The lesbian plot is very subtle, which works perfect on this movie. You don't have to see a lot of sex of fooling around to know what's going on between them. The story of these two women weaves itself without them knowing, and it turns out to be quite a strong bond.

"The Gymnast" is an excellent film about life changes, conflicts, friendship, love, and art. It was beautifully filmed with a very good musical arrangement and story. The two lead actresses (Dreya Weber and Addie Yungmee) were excellent not only in their acting, but in their amazing acrobatic abilities as well. The film's sexuality is very subtle and is interlaced beautifully within the story. It is not surprising that this movie won many awards. And, one important bit of advice to viewers of this film- do not stop watching this when the ending credits begin! Also, on this dvd, there is an interesting short film entitled "The Catcher" which might make your brain twitch a little bit.

This movie creates two very different but overlapping impressions. The first earns the movie's title - the gymnastics are beyond belief. The aerial work is gorgeous, like nothing I've seen before, carried out by two athletes with incredible power and grace. I could watch that visual spectacle for hours, and never wonder for a moment how it's done. That achievement is so far beyond anything I could do that I wouldn't understand the answer anyway.The second impression lacks easy words. If the characters were in their teens, maybe even early twenties, it might be called a "coming of age" story. Instead, Jane (played by Dreya Weber) inches up through her forties, in a childless marriage to a husband that you'll love to hate. So, in this "coming of a certain age" story, Jane falls for the young, beautiful, fiercely talented, and decidedly lesbian Serena. They strike some tasteful sparks, but real heat between them is left to your imagination. Different viewers will see the crumbling marriage and self-discovery with different eyes; my own response is largely no response.Beautiful stunts by beautiful, powerful women - others will see more, but that's enough for me.-- wiredweird

Satisfaite de mon achat

La réputation de ce film n'est plus à faire, un grand classique. En plus, mêler une activité sportive comme celle-ci avec le cirque un pur bonheur. Les actrices ont joué à merveille, les acrobaties une pure beauté... Merci. Seul bémol, la fin pas à la hauteur du scénario et on peut se perdre un peu dans les souhaits de Maya dreyer.

SOME RUBBISHED THIS FILM, BUT I FOUND IT VERY GOOD, WITH THE PRO-FIGHT-FEMALES HOLDING THERE OWN IN THE ACTING STAKES AND OBVIOUSLY UP FOR IT IN THE FIGHT ACTION. THE FACT THAT THE STORY [ALTHOUGH OLD HAT] HAD A START, AND MIDDLE{TO LET YOU KNOW WHY] AND A CLOSURE,[TO LET YOU SEE COMPROMISE CAN BE BETTER THAN REVENGE,] IT WAS A FILM I ENJOYED AND DID NOT FEEL THE NEED TO FAST FORWARD THE BORING BITS BECAUSE THERE WERNT ANY, LIKE SO MANY FILMS THAT PAD-OUT TO MAKE RUNNING TIME....C.J.

Just love the movie

The gymnast is a wonderful movie, a great love story :) colorful, joyful, with character and fun times. it's for everyone