Open Up To Me (2015)
Starring: Leea Klemola, Peter Franzen, Ria Kataja, Alex
Anton, Emmi Nivala
My Review and Thoughts:
This is a beautiful piece of dramatic cinema. Corinth Films released a touching, thought provoking exploration of the human being and the idea of sexuality and being who you really are.
Your main character is Maarit, a woman who once was a man.
She hides behind a low self-esteem and the idea of not begin fully who she
wishes to be. The world around her has basically shunned her and destroyed her
emotions. She can’t get a well-paying proper job because of the lack of
acceptance.
While cleaning a client’s office, a man named Sami shows up for a
therapist appointment. Sami mistakes Maarit for his therapist’s assistant.
Maarit goes along with the idea and starts to listen. She feels a connection.
Soon she finds herself going along with the untruthful reality. She is able to
finally open up. Soon she confesses her untruthfulness to Sami. To her ultimate
surprise, there is a connection that is not shunned or broken. As times moves
forward the two bond and ultimately the story begins. You the viewer experience
the up’s and downs and truths, lies, and coming to terms with the emotional
situations that transpire.
Written and directed by Simo Halinen. Halinen created a
truly wonderful piece of cinema that is both dynamic and passionate. An emotional
ordeal. A film that sticks with you and creates a memorable piece of cinema.
Simo has created something that will stand the test of time and I feel will be
regarded as a truly flawless piece of cinema.
This at times showcases the heartache and struggle that
transgendered individuals have to go through. A moving ordeal of emotions
running rampant. Leea Klemola is utterly fabulous and extremely extraordinary
in her part as Maarit. An award worthy performance that left me breathless.
Equally impressive is Peter Franzén in the role of Sami. The chemistry between
the two is flawless. They make this movie flow with perfect ease. Also starring
the very handsome Alex Anton in the small part of the sexually repressed High
School student. Anton does a really great job in adding a young fresh role to
the film. Emmi Nivala plays Maarit’s daughter, also with a flawless ease of
performing. Which might I add, this is her first acting job and for the small
part she had, utterly stunning in her role?
The whole cast is perfect. The story is flawless. The
emotional reality that takes place is something that I will never forget. Such
a sad society where people just can't be who they are. People can't mind their
own business and let people be who they want to be, without other people
hating.
A changing emotional trip into romance, relationships,
sexuality, family, love, and being who you are, and accepting who you are. The
story is one that remains with you. Maarit’s ultimate ordeal of being a
Transgendered person in a world that shuns her, and destroys her hope is
displayed with a true reality that I feel we all can relate to, and feel the
emotional baggage that she endures through the judgment, and hatred all around
her.
This has ran and been a huge success at many Film Festivals,
also winning the Jury Award for Best Film at the Long Island Gay & Lesbian
Film Festival. It was runner up at the Tampa Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
This 2013 Foreign Finnish film is flawlessly done in so many
ways. I can’t speak enough about the acting by Leea Klemola. Leea just gives
her all. The film is very rich in story. The movie is something that details
itself with the beauty of amazing acting, but also with a fine art of direction
and story. I think there are so many movies that try to create this sense, but
so many fail, Open Up to Me is not one of those failures.
A great film experience. Highly recommended. A must see
film.
INFO