dcannon I have a high tolerance for "serious" gay films, but this one is unforgivable. The story is preposterous; are we really expected to believe that a bishop could be held captive in a prison confessional and forced to watch a play that re-enacts a crucial event in his boyhood? The decision to have the women's roles played by men is just plain ridiculous. And the way it milks the cliché that love between men must always end in death and betrayal does nothing to advance gay cinema. The two boys, however, are quite pretty. But the actor playing the adult Simon bears no resemblance to the young Simon. As a boy, Simon has a peachy, creamy complexion; as an adult, he bears the obvious signs of severe acne. This is just one of many implausibilities in this deeply silly film.

ununiliac642 A very well-put together movie. The sort that feels complete and well-told after you watch it.Everything I would expect from such a movie: dramatic, tragic, and sexy. Definitely worth seeing.Someone commented that it was confusing... I found it a bit confusing, but I understood it all at the end. If I'd been paying a bit less attention, I can see how it would have been bad that way. But I think this movie is worth paying attention to see; the story is told in a very unique way.Or maybe I just haven't seen enough clever movies, making me really like this one.

ani_saguine When I first heard my friend tell me that the fourth play my seminar class had been made into a movie, a good movie and a Canadian one at that, I decided that this would be a must-see. After much effort I was able to borrow the movie from the Library, and was ready to throw a fit if it wasn't as good as the play script. It was.Granted, there are some deviations, but on the whole, this is a beautifully made movie with wonderful scenery and effects. I especially liked the additions made to the stage play. It made the whole story that much more understandable, although the prisoners' reactions were a bit odd. The scene changes were smoothly done and had meaning in and of themselves. It also explained some of the things in the play that I had to wonder about, such as, just how does Simon get Bishop Bilodeau captured anyways? I did NOT like Matthew Ferguson as Bilodeau. He was a little too weird here for my taste, but I suppose his effect in the role has been ruined by his turn as Birkoff in La Femme Nikita. There are also awkward moments when the acting is as bad as Lord of the Rings, but some of them are forgivable. Jason Cadieux is amazingly good as the very beautiful Simon, he's even good at acting badly, and Danny Gilmore is great as the delicate Vallier. Neither of these actors flinch at their roles. Lilies has definitely made me a fan of these two.All in all, Lilies is exceptionally good for a Canadian film made with young actors in leading roles, especially since all of those actors are relatively unknown and new to movies. I would have preferred the movie to have been done in French, the original language for the play, and use subs, but nothing is perfect. I would see this movie anytime.

Bruce This is a film of rare and astonishing brilliance, and unlike anything I personally have ever encountered before. It is exquisitely photographed and edited, and the acting is first rate all round. The all-male cast portraying both men and women might be off-putting for some, but it is performed so expertly that one forgets this detail - it is a film that magnificently transcends gender. In particular is Brent Carver's resplendent turn as the `mad countess,' the gentle, guileless mother of one of the young heroes. The story is a heartbreaking tale of love, jealousy, and ultimately, of Judgement Day, of the Day of Reckoning. That its storyline is about gay love should not put off heterosexual film goers, because the theme is timeless and universal. A bold and brilliant ‘must see.'