Loving Annabelle

Plot synopsis:
Annabelle Tillman, the daughter of a senator, is sent to a Catholic boarding school after being expelled from two of her previous schools. Simone Bradley, a poetry teacher at the school, is in charge of her dormitory. Annabelle shares the dormitory with an amiable classmate, Kristen. She also shares a room with Katherine, who tends to bully people, and Colins, a student with a nervous disposition.
Simone is a dependable and respectable teacher who occasionally bends the rules out of concern for her students. Her personal life is synonymous with abiding by the conventions of society and religion. Annabelle is her antiagent – with unrestrained behavior, unconventional choices and outright defiance for authority.
Annabelle receives a stern rebuke from the principal, Mother Immaculata, for audaciously flaunting her Buddhist prayer beads. Simone is given the responsibility of controlling her. At first, Simone requests that the principal move Annabelle to another dormitory but soon notices her maturity and sensitivity and convinces her to comply with the school regulations. In the process Annabelle falls in love with Simone.
Simone resists Annabelle’s delicate overtures until they are left alone at the school during spring break. Simone drives Annabelle to her beach house where Annabelle discovers painful personal details about Simone’s past. Annabelle holds Simone tightly in her arms as Simone breaks down. A deep emotional connection is established between the two.
Simone fights a hard battle with herself but is eventually overpowered by Annabelle’s relentless pursuit. At the annual school dance, Annabelle goes up on stage with her guitar and sings a song for Simone. Simone, who is confused, runs outside, but Annabelle catches up with her. They kiss and return to Simone's room to make love.
The next morning, Mother Immaculata walks in on them getting dressed and demands to see Simone in her office immediately. On being questioned if she did the right thing Simone admits that she loves Annabelle. Government officials arrest Simone, and just as she is leaving, Annabelle places her most prized possession – the Buddhist prayer beads – in her hands.
Annabelle tearfully looks at her pictures taken by Simone at the beach house while Simone is driven away. The movie ends with the following quote – ‘For one human being to love another that is perhaps the most difficult of all our tasks…the work for which all other work is but preparation.’

Tags: romantic

Review:
Putting aside the inner struggle Simone was fighting of wanting to show her love for Annabelle along with the conflict of the student, teacher, relationship that would definitely have legal ramifications, who would want to have to face the grave consequences of making such a professional and moral choice...which struggle only added to the intensity of all the feeling that was unleashed during the consummation and sharing of their deep feelings of love and intimacy one for the other.It all made me start to think about what it is to really love someone.
The "unconventional" love story turns many notions on their heads: student-teacher sexual relations; the possible effects of a Catholic school upbringing or environment on an individual; and same-sex love, if anyone out there is still bigoted enough to take offense to that.What I liked about the film was that it was character-driven, and not plot-driven.
I totally identified with the main characters and cared about them (individually) very deeply besides my interest in whether or not they would get together.The look of the film, the quality of the story, and the TERRIFIC acting (both Annabelle and Simone are perfectly cast) give Loving Annabelle the depth and sheen of a much higher-budget film.
My initial reaction after watching was....they finally got it right, more specifically, writer Katherine Brooks got it right.I've never really been a fan of "lesbian" movies because I could never get into the story lines or characters; they've all seemed a bit over the top.
I give this movie 2 thumbs way up for giving me something I can relate to, for being such a straightforward story about love, letting go, putting happiness first, etc.Now as an added bonus, since it was the premiere I was able to nervously chat with writer/director Katherine Brooks and the 2 leads (ALL HOT by the way) and they were all so super cool so it makes the movie that much more enjoyable.
After having watched so many lesbian films and being utterly disappointed with the majority of them, it was a relief to sit through "Loving Annabelle." The story touches the heart and is an incredible intro for Katherine Brooks into what I hope will be a long, fruitful career as a Writer/Director for feature films.
I will end with a cliché but very appropriate for this movie: If Loving Annabelle didn't exist, someone would have to invent it.
Because of this rushed feeling to the movie, I never got to know the supporting characters, who had plenty of potential for further development.The one thing I find redeeming about this film is the tension that builds between the two leads.
"Loving Annabelle" (2006), co-written and directed by Katherine Brooks, is an attractive film with attractive leads.
Basically it's a love story between a student at a Catholic school and her female teacher.The basic concept of the movie is forbidden love.
(Erin Kelly as Annabelle looks like a young Jane Fonda.) Diane Gaidry as Simone looked right for the part and acted it well.
Ms. Gaidry was gracious enough to come to the screening of the movie, which played at ImageOut, the Rochester Gay and Lesbian film festivalFinally, in Rochester, almost the entire audience consisted of lesbian couples.
To faint-hearted US citizens - who tend to pass out or cry havoc at the mere sight of a female nipple - this decidedly tepid tale of a 17-year-old lesbian girl falling in love with her 40-ish teacher and dragging her into bed might have SCANDAL written all over it; to more enlightened people, it's simply shallow and, even at its b-movie running time of 76 minutes, immensely boring.
And while the acting is okay, some scenes - such as the kissing-in-the-swimming-pool bit - look as cheesy as if they were lifted straight from "The L Word" or a soft-core lesbian sex flick; how director Katherine Brooks managed to hire people like Elizabeth Shue, Will Patton and the ever-magnificent Frances Conroy for her latest effort ("Waking Madison") is beyond me.
Finally, the climactic (no pun intended) sex scene is actually very tame and never goes beyond European prime-time TV standards, so, dear kids and guardians of public morals, there's really nothing to worry about.Contrary to some of the comments here, the film doesn't encourage, let alone propagate "pedophilia" (which generally stands for the sexual abuse of a child, a category a sexually active and aggressive 17-year-old hardly qualifies for in my book) but mostly plays like a chin-up movie for young lesbians about to come out..
It felt like a student movie about lesbian relationships in catholic schools.
The only way you could possibly enjoy this is if the film relates to a personal story of a similar category, like a crush on a teacher or some forbidden girl love episode.
Loving Annabelle has inspired me to come out, it has inspired me so much so that i'm left thinking, why the hell was I so worried about everyone knowing i'm a lesbian.
Katherine Brooks is amazing for creating such an outstanding film, she has really been able to connect with the audience, connect with something in me and i am just so grateful to her.Watching Loving Annabelle, i was constantly glued to the screen, allot of films out there i often find myself thinking 'oh my gosh, can i fast forward, this is really boring' but not this time.
i am straight when it comes to sexual orientation but i do not condemn or judge people who belong to the third sex...and i watch any kind of sensible movies, and LOVING ANNABELLE is just one of those.
i mean, when i was watching those movies i was like "yucky!!!" because the actors were kissing without passion or emotions.in LA, the way erin and dianne looked at each other let me feel the force of a magnet..!...
Maybe this is how it works, but I find it hard to believe that a teacher who says "NO" as many times as Simone did in this film would risk her freedom and her career for this particular student.
And the actress that played Annabelle, well, I hope she makes better career choices in the future because this film wasn't worth watching..
The movie makes you want to watch it to the end, and relate with its content, as well as wish all of the characters luck in their future.
From a cinematographic point, while the main part of the movie is not outstanding, the small segues between scenes are characteristically made, with amazing shots and good, calm music, and give this movie a characteristic look and feel that makes you want to return to it.
The movie loving Annabelle is a great tear jerker , very heart touching , highly emotional and only meant for those who really believe in love .
'Loving Annabelle' is a lesbian 'love-story' (I use quotation marks, because it is a love story in the loosest sense) between teacher, Simone (Diane Gaidry) and student, Annabelle (Erin Kelly) at a Catholic boarding school.I expected more from 'Loving Annabelle' based on it's rather decent 6.7 star rating, and was underwhelmed after finishing it.
There is nothing engaging or touching about 'Loving Annabelle', and out of the many romantic films I've watched over the years it is probably the flattest love-story I've ever seen.
I'm not averse to slow burn love stories (in fact, I'm a fan of them), but the agonising pace at which the relationship develops between Simone and Annabelle is almost unbearable.
This wouldn't have been such an issue if the relationship between Simone and Annabelle actually had depth and substance but it doesn't.Unfortunately, the performances from both actresses were average at best and their chemistry was non-existent.
Annabelle is a character based entirely upon 'bad girl' stereotypes and becomes inappropriately obsessed with Simone over-night, resorting to stalker behaviours which are rather uncomfortable to watch.
Her supposed struggle with her attraction to Annabelle is short-lived and she doesn't take any action to end the inappropriate relationship that is about to unfold between her and Annabelle.I believe 'Loving Annabelle' was supposed to tell a story of two young women who were unfulfilled in their lives and searching for a connection that they found with each other regardless of age or gender.
They collaborate again in this feature length drama about a Catholic school teacher who falls in love with a girl in one of her classes.Erin Kelly stars as Annabelle, a rebellious teenage girl who is forced to live and attend a strict Catholic school for girls.
Cat (Fudickar) is the bad seed, unable to resist the urge to say the things that need not be said.Annabelle's poetry teacher is Simone, a former student of the school and niece to Mother Immaculata, the headmistress.
Breckenridge, Horn and Fudickar are the perfect supporting cast, each able to complement and play off the others."Loving Annabelle" is a special film that deserves so much more attention than it will get.
The chemistry between the actresses was fantastic -- Erin and Diane made you wish for nothing less than a happy ending and while some of the script was textbook, their acting made you forgive the minor script shortcomings.Lets face it, Erin and Diane are two beautiful women you find yourself rooting for throughout the entire movie.
Therefore, watch the film, and decide for yourself, what you can discover, from Loving Annabelle..
You'll want to keep an eye out for other films by Katherine Brooks, as well as the lead actors (Erin Kelly and Diane Gaidry).
Loving Annabelle has to be one of the most honest and heart-wrenching films that i have seen in a long time.
i liked the alternate ending..and i wish it could be true...a nicely acted characters made it a real touchy story..i saw it several time minutely repeating each of its scenes..a perfect one.
after the world unseen by shamim sarif this appears to be a great watch...and yes this movie is a great support to the statement that 'LOVE can happen to any one with any one' what matters is the intensity for love...i just loved Simone Bradley perfections....she is awesome with the title girl...Erin Kelly...much they have talked about but everything was in their eyes..the attraction.passion and madness they created is just mind blowing.i think the director can go with the next part of the same movie as it leaves clues with it and do believe again it will click..
Loving Annabelle is a great movie!
If I'm going to like a romance movie, it really needs to have a twist; and while this film does follow a set formula and it's always clear where it's going; the fact that the two leads are female, as well as the fact that their romance is forbidden due to their 'professional' relationship and not to mention the religious themes means that director Katherine Brooks' debut feature has just about enough to distance itself from the mainstream.
The film takes place in a Catholic school and the story begins with the arrival of new student Annabelle.
Once it becomes clear that they have chemistry, the younger girl then proceeds to pursue the older until the inevitable dramatic conclusion.I cant say that this film is perfect; a plot like this is always going to rely a lot on coincidence and the way that the characters are laid out is not particularly inventive and the role each of the main players is going to play is as obvious as where the plot is going from the outset.
The director has a history of directing stuff for MTV, so unsurprisingly this film is a rather glossy affair, although it is well acted and well directed with lead actresses Erin Kelly and Diane Gaidry making an impression.
I don't look at this as a lesbian film, although it is, but as a film about love.The entire movie was a set up to the last 10 minutes.
Even though Simone fought it because of her position, it was apparent that it was going to be a losing battle, as Annabelle was just too strong and too convinced that her feeling were the real thing.Love.
Makes you wonder with all the stories you read in the news about female teachers having sex with their students, whether Katherine Brooks is some sort of a visionary!
Erin Kelly is stunningly beautiful and Diane Gaidry is charming in this lesbian love story.
If ever I get into the movies, I would want to be in a film similar to Loving Annabelle.
Created with a suited music score and I think a soundtrack is due already, impeccable direction by Katherine Brooks, believable performances and real chemistry between Diane Gaidry and Erin Kelly, it can't get better than that, and simply a story that doesn't fail to provoke different reactions because there's a lot involved, teacher-student conflicts, old love ties, Catholic morals and clashes, jealousy, even politics.
But I simply could not believe that Simone would fall for Annabelle who, to me, seemed like a self-important, immature teenage girl who would not be worth the risk of getting involved with.
The always controversial, taboo subject of a teacher-student relationship is depicted with grace, honesty, sensitivity (& not without a pinch of humor, too, might I add!) by 1st time feature director, Katherine Brooks, and her principle cast, Diane Gaidry & Erin Kelly.
One magic that makes this story so believable and convincing, apart from Brooks' brilliant writing/directing, has to be the actors' performance, particularly Gaidry's superb portrayal of her character's hopeless vulnerability, from the denial of her own true feelings in the beginning, which slowly turns into a heartbreaking struggle to fight the inevitability of love on her own (no dialogue is needed - you can capture everything that she feels inside through her eyes, body language, the facial emotions, without her having to utter a word.
Well, I'm usually not the one to write reviews, but for this particular movie, I felt, I just had to put my opinion into words.My overall impression is that it's like a strictly religious Christian writing a gay story: the moment they find each other, they met instant retribution.I watched "Loving Annabelle", because of the lesbian relationship the story revolves around, and I was mostly disappointed with it.
All the relationships are determined by the "role" of the character, and they doesn't even felt real, except for the one between Annabelle and Simone.Now let's talk about the most disappointing part, I'm talking about the ending, of course.
This movie consist of a beginning, an overly long first part, where Annabelle tries to seduce Simone, and an ending.
It's got excellent production values, a story that makes sense and reasonable character development - which already puts it way in front of most lesbian movies out there.
The main tension of the movie - that of a student-teacher dynamic - was completely rushed over, and at the end, I didn't sympathize with either Simone nor Annabelle - their romance didn't really make sense to me at all at that point.All-in-all, I'd say you're not missing much by skipping the movie.
After hearing rave reviews of Loving Annabelle, I rented the film without realizing the plot involved a teacher and an under-aged teenage girl.
It's not believable that a woman like Simone would be even mildly interested in Annabelle, much-less risk that much for the stupid little girl.
She doesn't even seem to be that interested in her, she seems more like a victim in their "relationship".The sex scene was probably the only well done thing in the entire movie, but with the rest of the plot, you didn't even want to see them have sex.
Loving Annabelle is like a poem  its beauty is in the details (as Simone herself puts it).
I always thought it was impossible to create a movie that is interesting right from the first moment but Loving Annabelle is not like any movie I have ever seenYou are hooked from the first moment and find yourself inside the characters experiencing their struggles and identifying with their feelings and needs.
If Annabel's character was different I don't think that the film would have been as good.
Also, although I was rooting for the relationship between the teacher/student to become blurred, in reality the situation would make me feel uncomfortable and so watching the interaction between Simone and Annabelle was difficult without wanting to shout at the screen "what the HELL are you doing woman?" All in all just an average film to add to a terrible collection.
I've watched this film so many times now and i never get bored of it,The reason i like it is because firstly the story is amazing, well lesbian teacher-student affair << you have to love it (: (Don't tell me none of you have thought about it) Secondly The film itself is great, the acting is spot on and the actresses are hot (Which is always a bonus) I believe it is one of the best lesbian films out there i recommend this film to everyone because it's so sweet and loving and i truly believe you will all love it!
This week I've been watching movies about lesbian stories and I liked each one I saw, and well, Loving Anabelle wasn't the exception, but I didn't like it as much at the others.
maybe I can imagine or guess, but I would've loved to see what happened with their lives, whether it was a happy or sad end.Besides, it shows a real school-life, tell life of a student in love with a teacher, and even thought I've never been in a situation like that, I know people who has, and I guess there are plenty persons who have been through that..
What I found really believable about this film was the attraction between Annabelle and Simone.
(Maybe alliteration is out of fashion this year...) We can't tell if Simone really loves Annabelle by the end.
Loving Annabelle is my favorite movie.