Review of Girls Can't Swim (2000) by Private U — 21 Aug 2007

I liked aspects of this movie very much. You feel Gwen's frustration, confusion and desperation over the changing nature of her friendship with Lise. Still, Gwen is a flawed heroine -- she's self-absorbed and can't grow mentally...

While this is a strong and poignant coming-of-age story, this film is undone by its conrived ending, which is over-the-top and unnecessary. This would be 5 stars if you cut out the last 15 minutes... Why do the French have to be so fatalisitic? (Excuse the broad generalization, but it seems endings of this type are not so uncommon in French film...).