First Love

I bought this film hoping it was one that I'd seen in the late '60s but it wasn't. I enjoyed watching it but I'm still looking for the film with a family who went to the countryside, I think, on holiday and 2 of the boys had their first sexual experience but each was very different. One of the loveliest pubescent sex scenes I'd ever seen; not explicit. All the kids in it were very blonde. It was German or French or Swedish. I wish I could find it. The Spreckles Theater in San Diego had Friday night movies after the usual films, late, midnight to 3 am, with all kinds of interesting films, foreign, art films, even science films. I saw a lot of very interesting films.

This is a film I've been looking for on VHS for some time, and I will purchase it as soon as possible.Although panned by critics when it opened in theaters in 1970, I thought it was a masterpiece of a certain kind. What kind, it is difficult to explain, as it defies easy categorization -- a compelling story of adolescent coming-of-age, based on a tale by Turgenev, this film is at once dream-like and atmospheric, poignant and ironic. It is informed with a sixties' "altered consciousness" sense of cosmic comedy mixed with profundity and pathos.A young man encounters, in one summer, not only a cast of jaded, comic, pathetic, and ironic characters outside of himself, but he also confronts the first torments of love, the first view of his parents beyond anything he could have dreamed of before, and a scathing confrontation with himself, which will remind many men, young or old, of their own youthful torments.Perhaps because of its unconventional approach, mixing narrative and metaphor so freely, critics had difficulty in giving this wonderful film its due. I recommend it.

As I have great respect for Maximilian Schell's acting ability, I was very disappointed that this was not up to his usual standards. Many competent actors fall down when they try and run the whole show: produce, direct, write, star--and that's what happened here. This is a typical "art house" product of the 60's, when so many of these were produced, wherein the languorous photography is all that is talked about because there is nothing else happening. Instead of plot consistency or explication, there are long shots of the sun through the trees. In fact the plot is sacrificed so that these arty scenic shots can be interposed at length, thereby obviating the need for elucidating the plot. So there are gaps and ambiguities, or no explanation at all for strange behaviour. Eventually, you just don't care about the characters because their behaviour is a mystery, and it's obvious that the film is never going to flesh them out. A huge disappointment. If you wish to see Mr. Schell at his best, I would recommend JUDGEMENT AT NUREMBERG, or THE MAN IN THE GLASS BOOTH. Move along folks, there is nothing to see here.

I first saw this film in 1970 and discussed it in my college interview. At the time it made a deep impression upon me since I was feeling my first sexual yearnings. A russian noblewoman manipulates the love of a teenager, who cannot understand the pull of such overwhelming emotion. A stolen kiss, skin brushing against a cheek, a whisper from a beautiful woman seemed to me, the most incredible thing. Very sensuous...indeed the very essence of raw sexual allure. Compared to so many trivial coming of age movies and so many trivial sex scenes, this film based on a Turgenev story is a winner.

Although I bought this DVD almost three years ago, I saw it today for the first time. The quality of the DVD is dreadful. Although it says that the film has been "digitally remastered and restored"- it's dreadful. Almost unwatchable.

Have always loved this dream.

I read good reviews of this film when it was released in 1970. I didn't see it then and looked forward to this DVD release. I have a great love of Russian literature and eagerly view any film or television rendition of the great Russian classics. The DVD format was disappointing. There were no extras with this DVD. Further, no subtitles to aid those who are hard of hearing. The setting did not seem like late 19th century Russia. It could have been any Eastern European country. Some of the soundtrack music was anachronistic; it sounded like "pop" music of the sixties rather than the chamber music one could expect in the late 19th century. Despite the best efforts by the performers, I could not feel the emotion from Turgenev's novella.

Love Maximilian Schell

boring

VCI have produced a perfectly good edition of this rare film, but the truth is it's only slightly less fuzzy than the Spanish Region 2 edition, and the anamorphic widescreen isn't very satisfying, since this 1.66:1 film, instead of having been cropped at the sides as in the Spanish release, is here cropped top and bottom - and of course there are plenty of moments when you can tell. On balance, I think this is the better version, so I'm glad I switched, but the difference is marginal, and the "ultimate edition" has yet to be made!