hjt15 I'm not a huge Elton fan but in this case, the soundtrack really helped transport me in time to this sweet love story set in the Camargue, France in the early 1970's. It's hard to imagine now that this would have been a hugely controversial movie when it was released about two underage runaways who set up house in a remote area and learn about love and life. It just shows that love and a strong bond between two people can conquer all. Or at least it could back then before tax and electricity bills blah blah. So if you're prepared to suspend reality for a few hours and just feel hopeful for these two young lovers then you will enjoy this sweet, simple and beautiful film as much as I did. Incidentally, I went to the Camargue about 5 years ago and it remains unchanged in it's charm so for me this was a nice reminder too that there are places that exist on this earth which are unruined and rustic.

english-express Rating this flick 10 out 10 makes me a person that grew up in the sixties.A flower child,and someone like Paul and Michelle just knew that the real importance in life,was to live and to live was to love. I was 18 years old back then,and although I'm from a big city(São Paulo/Brazil)I watched Friends when I was living in Manaus(north Brazil-the jungle place)and my heart just pounded and almost stopped when I rediscovered this film(I couldn't remember the name either in English or Portuguese),but was throughout Elton Jonh's biog that I came across it and a gentle soul has posted it on youtube.I watched.Ít is still a grand movie. Paul,a British boy living in Paris,meets Michelle,a girl that has just became orphaned.Their social-economical level are as distant as the Earth and the Moon,but it didn't bother them a bit.Young,under age,and they just follow their only option to live.Michelle after trying to live with a stupid cousin,sees that the only thing she has left in this world is a small cottage,owned by her late father,in an idyllic small place,Camargue,in Southern France.It is like there was nothing else,nobody else in that world.Just two of them,starting as friends,companions,but then as lovers.A child is born from that love. The director could express the sixties with vivid colors and it is funny because there are neither riots nor anti war displays,but he superbly shows HOW we felt back then.We were pure and innocent and believed in social justice and love, above all.Make love,not war. The scenery is beautiful:the wild horses,the sea,the whole environment,and the youngsters that portrayed Paul and Michelle did a good job!The scene when Michelle is at the cemetery putting flowers to her father(I believe!)is somewhat strong.SHE,really made me believe,in that moment,how alone,how the solitude was present in her life. The Brazilian culture is over sensual,(probably because we are in the tropics)so their nudity didn't matter,and them being under age,is part of the concept THEN,when we didn't talk(or knew,or mattered about children'molestation,that by the way,DOES NOT OCCUR !) "Paul!" "Michelle!"(they calling each other was printed in my soul!) This film is NOT intended for greedy souls. NOT FOR THE GREEDY!

ScannerWA Most of these reviews are dead on, so I'll cut to a different chase and answer a couple of questions I've seen on here.While the characters seem and look young (hence the controversy), the actor/actress themselves were 17 and 18 at the time and so obviously over the 16 barrier. Here in the USA, that's still somewhat controversial but the simplicity and innocence of the film does much to offset it.I'm sorry not to have seen more by Sean; in this movie at least his expressions are demonstrative and obvious; you know exactly what the character is feeling whether he's angry, afraid, or confused. Anicee had a healthy career, who's life was cut unfortunately short by cancer in late 2006. She was a beautiful and talented actress.VHS tapes of FRIENDS can be found at Amazon.com occasionally, but usually for a significant price; I've seen it as low as $60 or so and as high as $152 (as of this comment, there were two for that price). The sequel video PAUL & MICHELLE is not quite as pricey and can be obtained (when available) on Amazon for between $16 and $70 on average.

pauls-room Perhaps the most concerning thing about this film is the way many reviewers only see it as controversial, because it deals with young love. Also the ideals it sets out are how we would like to see the world, but are often prevented from doing so.Get past all this and you have a simple story of a boy and girl, who become friends and develop into lovers; but mostly outside of society's rules. While they pay lip service to certain conventions, they don't allow the rules to control their daily lives. The need for money requires the boy to get a job, but beyond this they live an idealistic existence in the beautiful surroundings of the Camargue.If you don't get a warm feeling while watching this film, then you have a cynicism that will spoil any innocent storyline. This may not be the Hollywood blockbuster that makes a lot of money, but it's one of those films whose story is very relevant at any time.