Love Me If You Dare

The first feature from French director Yann Samuell is an "expressionistic" allegory about love, disguised as a romantic fantasy. It is about how in our relationships we never outgrow childhood games or fully recover from insecurities caused by deep childhood wounds. It is about how people in love constantly test each other. Each dare is a renewed demand for the other person to prove their love, no matter what the sacrifice."Love Me If You Dare" is a gimmick translation of "Jeux d'enfants", a better translation would be "Games of Children". But given the general confusion about this film by English speaking viewers and critics the inaccurate title is probably appropriate. Film Theory 101 would include a discussion of the two basic film extremes, realism and expressionism. Generally the closer a film comes to reproducing reality, the less room there is for the filmmaker to express his artistry. Which is not to say that realism is necessarily less manipulative than expressionism, both aim to affect their viewing audience, expressionism is just less constrained.When you are used to a steady diet of Hollywood realism, it is difficult to switch gears and watch a film like "Jeux d'enfants" without attempting to force it into the realism mold. The temptation is to gloss over the surreal elements and to take everything you see literally. But Samuell has a background as an illustrator and designer. Note the inventive visuals that employ a multitude of cardboard cutouts and idyllic fantasy settings. This is expressionism. Note the accelerated action segments and strange transitions. This is expressionism. Note the interesting time passage montages and flashbacks.While you sometimes see similar stuff incorporated into a realistic film, it is explained away as a dream, hallucination, or memory. Here it is a tip-off that this is a surreal allegory like Bunuel's "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie". If you avoid taking "Jeux d'enfants" too literally, stop being judgmental about the actions and motivations of its characters, and focus instead on picking up its allegorical elements you will probably understand it better and enjoy it more.Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

In many American movies, the 'Love At First Sight' soulmate concept is explored in a very superficial and fuzzy way only. We are generally introduced to two people, they have misadventures, yet are drawn to each other despite it all. Once they realize they are in love with each other, the movie rarely continues past that point. Still, despite that fact, we are always left with the sense that these two passionate people will have their happy-ever-after.Love Me If You Dare defies those stereotypes. It is a compelling picture of the true destructive force that such an intense attraction can have. The two main characters clearly love each other throughout-there is never really any doubt. But it also explores the concept of the intense pain and sensitivity that comes from 'true love', and what that pain causes people to do. In addition, unlike many other movies, it explores the casualties of the soulmate concept-the other people hurt or left by the wayside. These people often committed no fault beyond loving the participants, but they are still stuck in the crossfire. And what a crossfire indeed! Life does not turn out happily for any of the outsiders this pair comes in contact with, from Julien's father to their friends and other lovers.This is, as many reviewers have said, not a 'pretty' picture by any means. It is not designed to leave you sighing sweetly and happy about how Love Always Triumphs. But it is a complex and engaging piece about how passionate love actually /is/, and for that reason alone is well worth watching.The only thing that mars this fine movie is the ending-extraordinarily confusing, and aggravating to the point of making one almost physically angry at the movie on occasion. It's a very 'Lady and the Tiger'ish ending, and if you can't handle that, you may not wish to pick up the film.

Not like any other film that I know of, though there is a little of the feeling of films like The Tin Drum and Eric Rohmer's films - different as these are. It's both light and dark, funny, sad, full of twists, and true. It's a romantic comedy for the damned. The lead characters are addicted to their "game"... an emotional truth or dare where they always pick the dare. I love these characters even though they're cruel to each other and sacrifice all others to their addiction. I don't typically like dark comedies, but this is a deeply romantic film - dark, but also light. Ultimately, it's a kind of parable - you'll be disappointed if you try to read it literally. I found this film when searching for the composer who wrote the heart-swelling score for Joyeux Noel (2005), Philippe Rombi, but as many time as I've watched "Jeux d'enfants" (the original title of Love Me If You Dare - "Children's Games"), intending to listen for the soundtrack, I get caught up in the film and realize I still haven't "heard" it by the end.

The movie was different, odd, but good. I didn't realize until watching that it was in French. Title, writing in DVD cover and back is all in English. Wish I could have listened to it in english.

I really enjoyed this movie. It was recommended to me by Amazon; I hadn't heard of it before but thought I would give it a chance. I am so glad that I did as it is now one of my favourite films. I appreciate that not everyone will like it. I think this is partly due to it looking like an average rom com, but it is actually quite a dark and emotional storyline.The two lead actors (well, four if you include their younger versions) are fantastic. They really play their roles well and you engage with them immediately. Their characters are not necessarily likeable and you find yourself in the middle of an emotional tug of war throughout the film but they are really good actors! It certainly leaves you questioning the characters, their actions and the overall situation.The overall production is excellent. The plot is well written and it does leave a bit of ambiguity at the end where you can make up your own mind about what happened. I tend to think that the ending actually did happen but I know others who disagree with me.It is in French and there are subtitles. This doesn't bother me and I didn't find it distracting from the rest of the action. Overall I highly recommend this film. If you are even slightly intrigued by it then I urge you to give it a go!

Totally blown away by this film, thought looking at the other reviews it seems to be a bit of a 'Marmite' movie. You'll either love it or hate it.And talking of Love - without giving too much away this is arguably the ultimate film about love. A love that was always meant to be, that faced and endured unimaginable setbacks. The performances from both the young and the old Julien and Sophie are brilliant and utterly convincing. There are undeniable similarities with the 2001 Amelie notably the predilection for the colour combination green and red, which can be fun to spot.I won't say anymore for fear of spoiling the story which is quite unexpected. Highly recommended. Do give it a try.

The original title was Children's Games, games that even in our real lives seem to never end yet they seem silly at some point.Of course for the protagonists what should have been lebeled as silly turned out as dares that had as a result to live for the thrill of the next dare while hiding secrets and real feelings as the years progressed. Friends turned to rebels, and rebels to emotionally unstable teens while they both ended up bound to others never having the guts to face each other.The movie is great I bought ir right after the relase and I made the mistake to led it.. long story short I never got it back so DON'T step back to those puppy eyes of a friend You will regret it. Buy it and it will be one of your collections gems.PS: I like to think that the ending was a "dare" for the audience so don't take eveyrything seriously but simply enjoy the movie.

Definitly one of my favourite films, its a romance but there's alot more to it, u may be suprised and u will want a happy ending, but i wont say if it is or isnt! Yrs ago I randomly got this film out from Blockbuster to watch, randomly as I dont speak French and im slow reading subtitles! However, I watched it and thought it was amazing! Abit later I got it out to watch again! Its such a good film, really bizarre all working round a game, although its all about love too, stuff happens like u expect but also to a darker degree too! Anyway, I moved and about a yr ago I tried to find it to hire again and i looked around for it to buy, but I'd forgotten its name and it was no longer at the Blockbusters i looked at! I searched for it on Amazon n remembered that picture on the cover so I immediately bought it and im so happy that I have! Its an awesome film, so worth watching and buying! Give it a go, even though may need subtitles like i do! :D

I love that film. It remind me my childhood friendship