***1/2

A sensitive film about both "coming out" and "coming of age," "You'll Get Over It" tells of a 17-year-old French boy's efforts to deal with his homosexuality. A championship swimmer, Vincent is a popular, well-liked kid at school and the apple of his parents' eyes at home. The problem is that Vincent is living a lie, keeping his sexuality a secret from his family, his two best friends, and the world at large. When Vincent is seen "consorting" with a suspected gay student, all hell breaks loose and Vincent is forced to deal with not only the reactions of those around him but the roiling emotions taking place deep within himself about what exactly it means to be gay.

Although the film feels a little too pat, contrived and melodramatic at times - kind of like an After School Special with subtitles and occasional flashes of nudity - "You'll Get Over It" wins us over with the delicacy, insight and compassion it brings to its subject. It shows us the myriad and sometimes surprising reactions from the people in Vincent's life - his parents, his "girlfriend," his best friend, his team mates, his swim coach and his teachers. The amount of outright persecution Vincent has to endure from his fellow students shows that even France - so often thought of as being in the forefront of all things sexual - has a long way to go in accepting gays. The movie also deals with Vincent's own conflicting feelings about being gay, as he contemplates a future filled with what he imagines to be loneliness and unhappiness. Like many gay people, Vincent lives in as much of a state of denial at times as the people around him.

The performances are excellent, particularly those by Julien Baumgartner as Vincent and Julia Maravel as Noemie, the girl who loves him and wants to help him, but who finds it hard to let go of him even after she discovers the truth. Baumgartner has a very expressive face that allows us to understand and identify with the external and internal struggles taking place in his character's life.

For the most part, "You'll Get Over It" has a nice, naturalistic feel to it. Director Fabrice Cazeneuve keeps his camera largely handheld and close to the actors, which heightens the sense of realism and intimacy this type of story needs to be effective. Unfortunately, the plot mechanics do intrude a bit from time to time, and the ending, while touching, does feel a little too conveniently upbeat to be entirely convincing. Still, "You'll Get Over It" serves as a valuable plea for understanding and acceptance, and that is a salutary goal for any film.

You'll Get Over It is a clever film that raises some interesting issues, not just about the coming out process, but also about the kind of schoolyard bullying that many young gay men have had to face in their lives. Full of earnestness and emotional integrity, You'll Get Over It focuses on high school champion swimming star Vincent (a terrific Julien Baumgartner), and his journey towards self-discovery.

Vincent is one of the most popular boys at school, he's good academically, and he's also the star of the school swim team. He likes to hang out with his two best friends, Stéphane (Francois Comar) and Noémie (Julia Maraval). Noemie has had a secret crush on Vincent, but Vincent has discovered that he's gay. He's confused and unsure, and worries about coming out to his loving parents, and the loyal Noémie.

Vincent has pretty well decided that he likes boys - he has Bruno, a gay lover that he sneaks across town to see. But when a new student, Benjamin (Jérémie Elkaïm), arrives at school, Vincent becomes instantly attracted to him and tries to share a first kiss. All the lies and secrecy start to get a bit much for Vincent and things are made much worse when Benjamin starts a nasty rumour-mill by inadvertently outing him. With his teammates shunning him, Vincent sinks into deep depression, melancholy, and self-pity.

How Vincent copes with this outing, both at home and at school is the central element of this story. Noémie is of course devastated, but she still consoles and loves him regardless. His parents, confused and naïve, worry about Vincent's bullying and struggle to help him cope with being ostracized. It doesn't help that he has a jealously competitive older brother, who loves to box and is starved for attention. Seeking advice from his swimming coach and also taking advice from his gay literature teacher, Vincent tries to pull together and transcend the stereotypes that his friends, family, and colleagues have associated with being gay.

While watching this movie I was shocked at the prejudice and bigotry that still exists with kids around this age. I would have thought that teenagers, especially in France where the film is set, would be more to tolerant and broadminded. Whatever the case, things work out happily (and perhaps somewhat unrealistically) for Vincent. Stéphane, Noemie, and his parents are all fine and super cool after they get over the initial shock of finding out.

The film belongs to Julien Baumgartner. His striking good looks positively show his range of emotion and allow the audience into his heart. In one scene, he goes to the city to explore the gay scene, but comes home disgusted at its tacky cheapness. There's an innocence, and incorruptibility to Vincent's soul that allows him to eventually find love in all the right places. Mike Leonard February 05.

You'll Get Over It is a great film. The film about a boy named Vincent who has everything going for him and riding smoothly. He's a great swimmer and does well in school, and people like him. Vincent has a girlfriend Noemie who is very good to him and a best pal Stephane who is also on the swim team. Vincent however is secretly dating Bruno (an older man) and has to make excuses to see Bruno. While hanging out in the hallway with his friends, Vincent's eye catches Benjamin, the new student. The two lock eyes and the next time they cross paths again is when Vincent is working. However, other people on Vincent's swim team know that Benjamin is gay and they tell him to stay away from Vincent. The next day Vincent is outed by graffiti on the school wall. The film then is about Vincent trying to cope with growing up now that everyone at school knows he's gay. He has to come forth with his girlfriend, his best friend, and his family. I think the story line is extremely believable. It almost as if you forget its a movie and as if your looking into someone else's life. It is so powerful to see what Vincent is going through and the new struggles he faces. Julien Baumgartner is such a good actor, he delivers a great performance. He's very intune with the character he's playing and is able to make Vincent so dynamic with so many emotions and feelings. The rest of the cast is also good, the roles they play are vital to the film. I just can't tell you in words how much I liked this film. I don't know if it was because it was a French film. It definately has an artistic side that you may not see so much in American films. I also didn't mind reading the subtitles, but rather enjoyed them. This film is probably one of the best gay films I have seen. I strongly think if you watch this you will like it.

YOU'LL GET OVER IT is a very French film: the moods of sensitivity, fresh teenage sexuality, and mature adult perspectives make it so much different than the usual film about gender identification. Fabrice Cazeneuve directs a strong cast with just the right amount of balance within the high school age sexual duplicity and in doing so makes this otherwise somewhat overexposed story idea special.

Vincent (Julien Baumgartner making an impressive debut) is a 17 year old role model: he is handsome, intelligent, popular, the champion of the swimming team, and a good son. Problem: Vincent is gay, but hiding in the closet, having trysts in private while still participating in a near menage a trois with his close friends Noemie (Julia Maraval) and Stephane (Francoise Comar). Vincent manages to walk the tightrope until new student Benjamin (Jeramie Elkaim) enrolls, a boy everyone knows is gay and whose budding friendship with Vincent alerts the world that Vincent must also be gay. Vincent is mocked, has difficulty with the swim team, has his first heterosexual affair with Noemie, is first exposure to the seamier side of gay bars, and eventually is forced to reveal his identity. How his parents Patrick Bonel and Christiane Millet) slowly become supportive with the help of swim coach (Bernard Blancon), teacher (Eric Bonicatto), and straight friend Bruno (Nils Ohlund) and all play significant parts in Vincent's sexual dilemma.

The film is light but addresses issues of prejudice that are worldwide in a manner both tender and mature. This is an excellent film for the general public who want insights into the gay question. In French with English subtitles. Grady Harp, November 2004

In 2002's "À cause d'un garçon" ("You'll Get Over It"), 17 year old Vincent (Julien Baumgartner) deals with the aftermath of being "outed" at his high school, following an aborted tryst with Benjamin (Jérémie "Come Undone" Elkaïm), the new guy in town. The graffiti painted near his locker, the taunting from his classmates, the stunned reaction from his parents, even the open hostility from his brother are easier to deal with than being ostracized by the others on the swim team, possibly jeopardizing his getting a college scholarship. Only one team member remains on his side, while even a teacher believed by students to be gay refuses to help him deal with the reactions. Vincent explores the local gay scene, and is repulsed by the "meat market" atmosphere. His former girlfriend, Noémie, tries to be supportive, but eventually decides that she needs to put her own needs first. In time, his parents rally to let Vincent know he is loved "as is," and enlist the help of his swim coach to overcome the problems with the team.

A beautifully photographed and nuanced film made for French TV, depicting a coming out experience that teens can relate to, handled in a realistic and balanced way. Rated R, with male and female frontal nudity and similated sex. In French with English subtitles. No DVD extras besides the usual trailers and scene selection utility.