Lea (1996) User Reviews

Over-rated

[petshop · 6/10 · 21 February 1999]

A "the Piano-esque" story of a young Slovakian woman who witnesses and experiences terrible things. It is also a love story.

While beautiful and idyllically paced, much of the story simply seems too familiar. Eventually beauty tames the beast, and true love evolves from abuse. But at just a moment too late...

The overdramatic and sometimes downright annoying score (you'll hear glass shatter about 10 times a minute) labriously bog down what otherwise may have been a beautiful film.

Quiet yet powerful movie - you'll remember long after you've seen it

[elise-aymer · 10/10 · 12 June 2004]

I saw this movie late one night long after I should have gone to bed. I didn't expect much since there is a lot of drivel on at that time of night, but was very pleasantly surprised. This is a quiet film. There are no bombs, car wrecks or much in the way of sweaty bodies here. There isn't even much dialogue - body language and glances often do the talking.

The film's focus is instead its characters. The title character and the man she finds herself married to are both extremely complex, interesting personalities. Lea, is a remarkable blend of frail beauty and incredible strength. Since abuse (cycles of it) and loss (also cycles of it) are strong themes in "Lea" the film is sometimes emotionally hard to deal with, but because everything is so beautifully acted and directed I found that I couldn't turn away. Definitely worth watching.

An unexpected love story of unexpected love

[ntmk · 9/10 · 19 August 2004]

Like life, Lea neither starts nor ends happily. And as in life, it's what happens in between that defines who we are and who we choose to become.

Lea the film and Lea the character are mesmerizing from first frame to last.

Unblinking in its brutal depiction of despair and the internal struggle for survival, Lea tells the story of two broken people, one who is afraid to talk and one who is afraid to open up, who, brought together through mercenary means, discover a unique method of communication and find in each other healing, hope, and unexpected love.

It is a simple film with a simple story, and simply told, it is simply exquisite.

Intoxicating

[dmihic · 27 July 2000]

This is a very sad yet strangely intoxicating film. My eyes dried out because I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. You never know whether Lea's story will turn for the better or the worse. She is a very sad soul that you just want to scoop up and take care and hope that Mr.Strehlow will do the same despite his unorthodox methods. Although we have seen Lea's story before, this German-Slovak perspective should not be missed.

Each moment of the film exposes humanity to it's own existential romance...

[GinoBilodeau · 10/10 · 3 May 2006]

Ivan Fila torments you into an oblivion of thoughts when you first watch Léa. What was avid of torment and nostalgia slowly evolves into meaningful bliss taking place in a reality where the exploration of one's self is a battle that can last a lifetime. In each second of the movie, you hear Léa speak inside her eyes when the colors of her mentality meet the mnemonic eyes of Strehlow. The movie propels you into one's view of the liberation of emotions by the means of artistic release, constantly gripping you into it's excruciation. Are you imprisoned by the past? The movie explores that theme without cynicism and without the actual clichés of current cinematographic creations. Each moment of the film exposes humanity to it's own existential romance in a way which will fascinate the viewer. Léa is a tormenting character, she will take whoever watches into her individuality, and let you share her freedom while being a prisoner of herself and others. A prisoner in whom you do not find speech, but liberation inside other means of expressions. Is love found by the means of words? Another question that elaborates the concept of romance. Lea should be seen, so that you see and feel a story, in which realities collide to form a union that separates the usual cliché from a new meaningful subsistence. The journey that is life, never ceases to continue in Lea: each must learn from hers or his own past to shine into the beauty of existence...

Raw and extraordinary

[Majercikdaniel · 10/10 · 3 June 2022]

This film is an ode to filmmaking. Strong in every sense. It is one of best movie I have seen. Highly recommended. Camera and scenes complement this extraordinary filmmaking.

Utter nonsense!!!

[lemagicienbergier · 1/10 · 1 January 2018]

This movie is totally deceitful depiction of life in Slovakia in that time, i am shocked czech director could have make something this deformed and mendacious. Shame, shame, shame. Disgusted.

Talk of melancholy and the infinite sadness...

[ping-2 · 30 March 1999]

I have never seen a sadder movie in my life. This is a tragic story of a very special person who lives the harshest existence film may have ever seen. This story is a genuine poem into itself. It feels like an old story because it is. It reminds us that woman have suffered this kind of abuse for thousands of years and still do today. Take a chance and go see it. There is some happiness in a strange and poetic way.

Bring some tissue and a sweater, this film is cold.

7 bucks out of 8