I Am Jonas (2018 TV Movie) User Reviews

A really well-made, well-acted & interesting story

[brenswee · 8/10 · 16 March 2019]

"TV movie" conjures up all manner of negative judgements for me. I may need to revisit that because if I'd "gone with my head" on this, I wouldn't have watched this and I'd have missed out sorely.

This is quality. A really interesting story that touches you. Superb direction and all of the actors are so natural that I wanted more, so much more.

That moment when the two timelines get linked was a 'whoa' moment for me.

I must single out Félix Maritaud as Jonas for some fantastic acting but to a greater extent Nicolas Bauwens as young Jonas. He's effortless in the role. I hope to see him in many more films.

This is a movie that I wish I hadn't seen, for the simple reason that I wish I could get to enjoy it all over again for the first time!

A haunting, well-made drama

[denny321 · 8/10 · 28 September 2018]

Jonas is a clearly troubled 33-year-old gay man who drifts through life listlessly, seemingly haunted by something in his past. As the film opens he's being arrested for some sort of altercation in a gay bar. A sympathetic female cop recognizes him as a former classmate, and Jonas is drawn into memories of high school and meeting Nathan, the boy who would help him discover his sexuality and become his first love.

From there the plot skips between two parallel tracks as we follow his high school romance and watch his adult life disintegrate before his eyes. Soon we come to realize how strongly he clings to his past, until the two timelines meet head on and the event that has shaped his entire life is revealed.

This is a moving, emotionally charged drama, much higher quality than you'd ordinarily expect of a made-for-TV movie. The ending seems a bit rushed and abrupt - we'd like to spend a little more time exploring Jonas's feelings in both timelines after the big reveal and before the sweet-but-sad final scene - but this was likely due to TV time constraints, and in any event serves to demonstrate just how quickly life can take an unexpected turn. My only other complaint is that while the entire cast does an excellent job, Jonas, Nathan, and their classmates are way too old to be ninth graders. They could have easily been made two or three years older without changing a thing in the script; as is, it just looks wrong. The best bet for the English-speaking viewer is to simply assume there's a typo in the subtitles, the boys are really 17, and go from there.

Haunting

[desiree_ran · 7/10 · 22 December 2018]

The texture of the film kinda reminds me of Halt and Catch Fire. Jonas's seek for reconciliation with himself parallels with his search for his lover. Actually I don't think they went as far as lovers, and they were more like teenage crush, but his hallucination of Nathan is still poignant. It's more about how an incident in your teenage years, how some people at that time, are going to determine your emotional reaction to subsequent events in those years leading to your adulthood, even to your middle age. They are haunting you at the most nonchalant or irrelevant moment of your life.

A story that will remain deeply etched in your memory

[selern · 20 November 2019]

First of all I won't spoil anything. "Jonas" is an incredible movie, with a story so thoroughly develop you won't want to miss it. The story develops on two timelines in a really clever way and the mystery is revealed in such a thought-out manner that honestly you'll stay glued to the screen. It's been a long while since I saw a movie developing and revealing the plot so well. As for the actors, their acting is wonderful. The younger actors as well play incredibly well. Nothing feels fake or rushed or inauthentic. It's really a movie you shouldn't miss!

Cravings for a Gameboy.

[adamjohns-42575 · 7/10 · 18 June 2020]

It wasn't the happy, colourful film of teenage love I was lead to believe by the picture chosen to advertise it on Netflix, but it was a very interesting and rewarding story. I actually liked it, despite the complete lack of nudity.

The twinned stories surrounding the main character, Jonas are brought together brilliantly and I would have liked to have seen more of both, perhaps it could have been a two part film, because I think there was a lot more to say. Regardless of that it still worked very well and I thought it was directed tastefully and with care.

There were no stand out performances from anyone, because it's just not that kind of film. They are all exactly what the roles needed.

I did feel sorry for Jonas, nothing went right for him and I think that is something we can all relate to, as well as feel judged by.

I did miss one or two bits as I was on eBay looking for a Gameboy with Tetris!

Really bad casting choice, yet still a decent film

[fLip2k · 6/10 · 1 August 2020]

I could never understand the decision to cast a guy who looks nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing like his younger (18 years difference) version. Maybe the casting director or even the actual creator chose a guy who looks so absolutely different to his younger version "A la "Moonlight"? - once can't change once face like that, unless they undergo some really screwed up plastic surgery with bone reshaping surgery/'implants. For me this just made me completely disbelief it was the same person - again, maybe done on purpose - which broke my enjoyment.Then there's that unexpected ending, making you feel it was just an unfinished story - ends abruptly w/o any explanations what the brother had to do with any of it. Unsatisfying to say the list. yet, it was still a compelling story, jus wish it was written better, with a guy who looked at least a tinny bit as himself in his later years, so that loses 2 marks from 8/10 to 6/10 at best

A Very Compelling Movie

[marc88 · 7/10 · 11 December 2020]

Very Interesting...And I do hope to see A Lot More of Nicolas Bauwens in the future!!!

A modern gay-gem!

[SvetoslavGrigorov · 10/10 · 30 December 2018]

A powerful coming of age story with a French taste. Jonas (2018) is a TV movie that can beat at least thousands of other movies for the big screen. Its qualities such as depth, a good, mysterious story that slowly unfolds in front of your eyes, and of course our homo problems, that are waiting to be cleared off on a very long queue this time hit you straight in the heart without any superficiality. The characters are true to life and there isn't stereotyping but pure acting as it should be. The movie operates with flashbacks exploring the youth and current days of Jonas, now a troubled 33-year-old guy who's just been thrown out from his boyfriend, because of cheating. The missing segments start to make sense as the movie progress in a perfect aka "Weekend" cinematography. It will make you think about a few of your crushes most probably as it is a very intimate film. A must see!

LGBTQ from france

[ksf-2 · 6/10 · 9 April 2020]

Grown up Jonas (Félix Maritaud) ends up at the police station for fighting in a french gay bar. Flashback to him in his earlier years, and his time with Nathan (Tommy-Lee Baïk). high-school jonas is infatuated with nathan, the new student. they speak (french) very quickly, but the captions are good. we flash back and forth between the older, messed up, drunk Jonas and the fresh, young teen jonas. nathan tells some stories, and explains how he got his scar, but did all that really happen, or is he making it up? it develops into intrigue, and then the timelines meet up. it ends, but there is no ending... kind of disappointing. feels like they left off the ending. anyhoo.... Written and directed by Christophe Charrier. no information about him on imdb, but he's french, and pretty new to the scene, so i guess its to be expected. this story feels like it was partly someone's own experience growing up, with some mystery and intrigue added in for effect. its okay. showing on netflix.

Can a deeply traumatic experience as a teenager be overcome?

[lovegroveao · 8/10 · 9 January 2019]

Other reviewers have pointed out flaws in this film. 9th grade is clearly inappropriate, and the new boy sequence is a worn-out cliche. In several respects, this film could have been more imaginatively conceived. However in a time when we are ever more concerned with mental health issues and their root causes, this film is an interesting exploration of deep trauma affecting psychological health in later life. I am not sure if Jonas wins through in the end, maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. Nonetheless, a moving story. For anyone who thinks that anti-gay sentiment in schools is a thing of the past, think again.

SEXY, SWEET, & SICK

[mmthos · 7/10 · 18 October 2020]

Tragic tale of a reserved, closeted gay teen brought out by a very open, defiant and risky teen who also has impregnated his own mother along the way. Out for a night of gay fun (while Mother is giving birth), things take a terrible turn for the worst (think of the scene of Princess Di's death in that car crash in that tunnel, having just happened days before.. As that event paralyzed the world, so too the life of the shy teen who walked away. sending his life into a downward spiral of endless casual sexual encounters, looking for the lost love he'll never find, After much stirm und drang he does, however, manage to find a reasonable facsimile to go with him to the amusement park the 2 boyfriends were hoping to go to before their young love was so violently split asunder. Turns out that was really all the kid wanted after all, and presumably cured his sex addition at the same time. But who is the mystery man who walks into the blinding neon glory of that Dreamland with him? You'll find out,,,

The actors are all terrific, not a weak link in the bunch, and, with the unfortunate exception of a couple of slo-mo cliche's, filming well suited to the tone and troubled psyches in the story

Leave it to the French to make sick perversion so much FUN ;

I Am (Left Wanting More)

[DreamerX616 · 8/10 · 11 April 2020]

Hauntingly tragic story of young love and innocence broken.

Told from 2 time periods this sensitively told french movie tells of a night of tragedy that would forever leave a scar on our main protagonist Jonas. The director leaves it till the last few scenes for the viewer to put all the pieces together and then have us screaming for answers and resolutions that by the end credits we know are never going to come and we leave the movie, like all the characters, with a sense of hope, tinged with despair.

Too many flaws

[laduqesa · 6/10 · 27 October 2023]

Where do I start? Well, first of all the utter disparity in resemblance of Félix Maritaud and Nicolas Bouwens. There must be teen actors with jug ears that could have played the part of young Jonas. That the two actors were so dissimilar really detracted from my enjoyment of the film.

Maritaud has a penchant for this type of part and plays it well. I just wonder if he doesn't find himself a bit typecast though.

As for the story, it's convincing in the early years but less so in the later years. I didn't find the ending cathartic and found the congruence of the timelines unconvincing.

Do I regret having watched? No, but it's not the masterpiece that some have claimed.

It's okay

[samshvji · 5/10 · 25 June 2020]

While I enjoyed watching, it never really grabbed me. I just felt like the two boys their relationship felt a bit lacking as did the whole trauma story line . It all just felt a little undercooked.

chronicle of a life

[Kirpianuscus · 30 November 2018]

Beautiful cinematography, admirable performances, bitter story, inspired storytelling, admirable performances. And a story about fall, secret and fight for survive. Almost a pretext for a touching portrait about ages and experiences of a young man in war with his past. It is one of films who could be defined as good or bad for the measure who you recognize parts of biography of yourself in its scenes. Because, at sin or virtue, it did not gives a specific story. Only embroidery of facts from past and consequances of present , without a clear connection. So, just a film who I love. First for great job of Felix Maritaud. Being subjectiv in profound sense.

it poked my heart.

[ambitiondara · 6/10 · 10 April 2022]

Story was really well crafted, ending was really touching, it shows the mistakes we do as a teenager, and a burden of man, which he holds onto. Fabric of reality is often good and weak.

TOUCHING.

[andrewchristianjr · 7/10 · 13 April 2021]

Heavy and touching, I Am Jonas delves into the depths of pain and loss.

Poor acting held up by genuine script

[jimwhit · 6/10 · 16 March 2020]

The visuals suffer greatly from the curse of good looking straight men being encouraged to take on gay parts. Slight redemption rests on the shoulders of the adult actors and down to earth story.

Stunning and Shocking all at once

[cjv-33398 · 10/10 · 5 May 2020]

I started watching this movie out of pure curiosity. Being gay and having seen the likes of "Love, Simon" "Alex Strangelove" and others, I wanted to watch something that differed from them... And boy did this one deliver. The movie starts you off immediately with present day Jonas in a situation that we have very little context about, over the course of the movie between flashbacks and present day the story gets filled in. However, the whole thing doesn't fall into place until the end of the movie. The movie is so well crafted and the actors are brilliant, especially young Jonas and Nathan and the excitement of Jonas figuring himself out was something all too familiar to me! Then end of the movie had me in tears as all the pieces fell into place and left me shocked! I definitely think this is a movie with watching and experiencing!

Beautiful And Sad

[birkgez · 10/10 · 21 May 2019]

I saw the wonderful Felix Maritaud in BPM, and hope to get a copy of Sauvage, but in this, Jonas, again, a sublime performance from him, as was the case with all the actors here. And yes, I shed a few tears at the end. Beautiful and sad and as the two stories come together, you understand why Jonas is such a flawed adult, haunted by what happened in his youth. The writing and directing excellent also. This is Art, simple as that. Give me films like Jonas any day over the many embarrassingly cringeworthy gay films out there (usually from the U.S). Bravo to all involved in the creation of Jonas.

Impressive and very moving.

[johannes2000-1 · 9/10 · 15 May 2020]

I was very impressed and moved by this film. It's just "small", I mean: just a few actors, a simple albeit poignant story, no big settings or effects. But it all fits perfectly, and the director effectively makes us jump forwards and backwards in the chronology of the story, to make us gradually aware of what happened in the past that has made the adult Jonas the complicated and almost self-destructive man he is.

The being gay of the main characters is not so much an issue here; although the scenes during high school at first seem to go in that way, it's basically about a teenage love as any other, so don't expect some coming-out movie. The main premise is having to live with an overpowering feeling of guilt and shame on account of some terrible incident that concerned the person on whom at that moment all your new and hopeful love was focused.

Adult Jonas is played by Félix Maritaud, I saw him recently in Sauvage (2018), and he is equally impressive here as a man tormented by his memories. But young Nicolas Bauwens as the teenage Jonas is just as impressive in his straining part and more than once moved me to tears.

The ending is rather abrupt but it fits the story and although nothing is actually stated that way, it does leave the impression of some redemption for Jonas, a hint at the start of a happier future.

Unconvincing

[james-stubbs · 5/10 · 7 March 2020]

Difficult to have any empathy with or interest in the characters. There's no buy-in to the love story either. You're left waiting for something interesting to happen.

Dark Slowburner that is not receiving the love it deserves

[robinhio84_ · 8/10 · 5 December 2021]

To get it out of the way. This is not a feel good coming of age movie, but one that cuts much deeper. I'm not going to give away anything about the plot. Don't expect Glee ;)

Other then that. Acting is very well done. The story is timeless and it's a true gem.

One that you will remember also in a couple of years I think.

A dark and modern Queer story.

[bryanberrios96 · 10/10 · 1 April 2020]

This movie it's short. Straight to the point. Nothing it's unclear even tho nothing it's actually clear until the very end. It's super concise and has a resolution. Utterly mysterious and haunting. It's a painful ride that you will enjoy from the very bringing till the very end. Queer indie movies tend to be slow and painfully experimental sometimes or even boring. But this story it's bold, and it keeps you on edge. Themes such as trauma, bullying, gay culture and love are addressed in a very contemporary way. Christophe Charrier managed to have tense energy throughout the scenes that kept building on. He had a purpose for absolutely everything he showed on the screen. Clean, consistent cinematography as well, Beautiful job. The hookup scene with the catfish guy, Brilliant.

Well Written With Stunning Cinematography

[zac-68274 · 10/10 · 7 March 2020]

A kaleidoscope of adolescence melancholy and low self esteem rollercoasters out of control. Exceptional Acting with great dialogue.