Mouth to Mouth (2005) User Reviews

Adolecence amok.

[michaelRokeefe · 7/10 · 21 November 2011]

Eye opening look at lost souls of the street. Disenchanted teen Sherry(Ellen Page)is hitching through Europe trying to get away from her single mom Rose(Natasha Wightman). Sherry falls in with a cult-like group of young people; former drug addicts and prostitutes. This is just one of many like groups living an underground existence. The charismatic leader of this particular band of misfits is Harry(Eric Thal), who wants to lead his followers to a mystical and euphoric place that also seems lost. Mind control and habit changing techniques are supposedly going to keep these people off the streets...and supplying them a future. Sherry's mother finally catches up with her placing her voyage of self discovery in considerable doubt. Cinematography and camera angles provide for a disconnected atmosphere. This gritty indy film is directed by Alison Murray based on some of her own real-life experiences. MOUTH to MOUTH is definitely not mainstream. Page is excellent and truthfully the only reason I chose to check this flick out. Others in the cast: Beatrice Brown, Diana Greenwood, Maxwell McCabe-Lokos, Jefferson Guzman, Armin Dillenberger, August Diehl and Willie Rachow. Beware of course language and sexual situations.

Mouth to Mouth

[alexmvieira14 · 7/10 · 22 July 2014]

(I apologize if the review contain mistakes, because I'm Portuguese)

I'm loyal fan of the movies that Ellen Page has been doing in recent times ("Juno," "An American Crime", "Hard Candy" ...)

Recently I had the opportunity to see this "Mouth to Mouth". I prepared some popcorn, sat down on the couch and started to watch it!

The first parameter to not like the movie, I noticed that happens early in the film, his screenplay was a bit confusing. Very tied up. Do not know if understood the "tied" which meant, but is a bit confused. The worst is that the screenplay will continued so until the rest of the film.

The director of the film sometimes shows strange scenes on screen (I will not say the spoiler), but who see the movie will notice this and identify what those scenes. Sometimes, the course of the film is a bit confusing. I do not have much sense of time.

Now let the good things the movie. I love the twists of the film and the performances. The cinematography is very dirty! And for being "dirty", it is a good cinematography. And the soundtrack, I liked.

Overall is good. But ... have their reservations. Have bad side. Recommend, but does not belong to my favorite movies.

Good performance from Page in a so-so film

[alainenglish · 7/10 · 19 April 2008]

Directly preceding "Hard Candy", the film that made her name, "Mouth to Mouth" is Ellen Page's break-out movie and it's easy to see why. Her performance as Sherry, a lost young girl in Eastern Europe finding sanctuary with a group of sub-hippies, is a standout in it's bravery and sheer physicality.

Sherry (Page) is a runaway from Canada loose in Germany who takes up with a group called SPARK (Street People Armed with Radical Knowledge), a group of similarly adrift young people taken under the wing of Harry (Eric Thal), an older man with high ideals. Other notable people in the group include fun-loving Nancy (Beatrice Brown) and friendly, zany Mad Ax (Maxwell McCabe-Lokos). Sherry shares a conflicted relationship with her mother (Natasha Wightman) who joins the group in an effort to reclaim her, but the two of them come under strain when it's clear that Harry is less interested in high ideals and more interested in controlling the group by any means necessary...

The central of themes of how ideals are subverted in the name of power, even with this group of so-called radicals, are realised in the latter part of the film where Harry sets his group to work on a vineyard where his true motivations become clear. While this is very interesting to watch, I still thought more could have been done with it. As good a character as Harry is as written, Eric Thal does not seem to have the range to make his transformation truly register emotionally. Consequently a good part of the film falls down.

It is Page, of course, that saves the movie although even she is not quite at her best here. Her performance does not have the wit of her "X-Men" and "Juno" appearances, nor the edge she would acquire doing "Hard Candy". Nevertheless there is a strong and truthful physicality in her presence that registers best in unspoken moments, especially the roadside exchanges between her and Wightman, and later McCabe-Lokos. These two scenes are like a dance, yet seem perfectly natural and it's difficult to imagine another actor doing them this well.

"Mouth to Mouth" is Region 1 and hard to find in this country, but it is worth looking up anyway for it's interesting themes and Page's central performance.

The wrong film in the wrong hands

[chikinlikinlou · 3/10 · 19 June 2008]

This film is based on an interesting idea which in the right hands could have been a wonderful film. Its an indie film, of course it is, but I have seen a good few indie films and this really hits rock with the director. I mean Alison Murray, I'm sure she knows a lot about being a teenage dropout but she doesn't know much about making a gripping film.

Its got some pretty good casting, about six of the people cast were okay actors and that includes Ellen Page, it didn't really push her the way a film and a good director should, as as we have all seen - she can do a lot better! The film was shot as though Murray read about every effect you can do with a camera and thought - I'm gonna use them all! It went light for no reason, it didn't accentuate a feeling or to show an emotion, it wasn't intimate or innocent it just was and in my experience, ever shot should be justified, from the first to the very last.

The sound track was good, I'll give you that. And some of it was quite hard hitting, but I find it difficult to believe that I just watched a film where people died in the course of an anarchist group trying to find freedom and I don't care about them. It wasn't believable, no grief, no despair, no anguish. I wasn't reeled in, I didn't feel their pain and so I didn't believe in its reality.

It is that typical film made by someone who wants to tell their 'incredible story' and just got out of art school. It tries to fit too much in to the plot when a good film can focus on both plot and the dimension of the characters. The ending was excruciating and I cant believe I just spent £15 on this film.

Portrait of a Cult

[MovieBuff1414 · 10/10 · 28 January 2008]

When I first saw the preview for this film, it looked like a trippy indie film with a great soundtrack. I decided to give it a chance and bought it. It just came in today and I have to say, it is not what I expected, but better.

This film is not about some rebel girl who runs away from home and has insane adventures. This is a movie about a girl who is desperately trying to become a part of something and the mother who follows her into a dangerous cult. It has so much more depth than I expected. The movie's hero is clearly Bat from beginning to end. However, other characters who the viewer does not expect become heroes as well. The movie shows a very scary and a very real descent into the lifestyle of a cult. The characters are unique and are uniquely duped into this life.

The acting in it is phenomenal. Ellen Page, who we now know as Juno, shows another side of herself as the resilient Bat. The character shows real strength in the face of confusion.

This movie entices and rattles the viewer. It dares to ask the question, What is a perfect world?

Instantly forgettable

[dragonmaster0303 · 3/10 · 4 June 2008]

What can I say about this? Nothing about it is inherently bad (well okay, most of the acting is, but aside from that very obvious fact); it's mostly just a very plodding even boring film of often silly, predictable nothingness. You have your standard stereotypes everywhere, but none of the characters are in any way likable, which in itself doesn't necessarily cause me a problem and maybe this is just the type of film where no one needs to be liked, but either way. It even fails to explore the nature of a cult more deeply (or even at all), which was a wasted opportunity.

One last thing, I've seen a few mentions of this being realistic. My a**e is it realistic! People seem to think that if a film's made on a low budget with no special effects and bad acting that it's realistic. Please stop mistaking hard to watch with realism.

I finally received the movie!

[TheGOLDENWALRUS · 8/10 · 19 February 2008]

After two years of trying to find the movie, I finally purchased it for 18.99 on ebay. Right when I received the package, I put it in my DVD player. It was worth the wait.

First to note, the movie is low budget and you can tell from the poor lighting. But, it kind of added to this film. The film was very dark and gritty as it portrayed a cult that started as a party and ended as manipulation. I did notice quite a few plot holes such as how did Sherry's mother find Sherry when Sherry was over a thousand miles away. But other than that I applaud Alison Murray's efforts in this film as we laughed and cried with the lead character played by the always fantastic, Ellen Page.

It was after Ellen's performance in Hard Candy that made me want to follow her and it is quite obvious that she'll have a fantastic career ahead of her.

There is so much to say about this film. I loved the score and thought it was perfect for the film. It was very well placed and enjoyable. I loved how the actors would kind of dance to strange situations such as Sherry's mom would try to get Sherry in her car and Sherry wanted to get away from her. It was almost liked they did a tango. It was beautiful to me. What I also enjoyed about the movie was it was very unpredictable. Early in a movie you see a kid get nonchalantly thrown into a dumpster to get some food and he ends up hitting his head against a sharp object. There was no music to narrate the situation for you so it kept me off guard. I don't know what it is about indy films but they always appeal to me. I love the experimentation of the film.

So all in all, you'll probably not be able to find this movie for rent and will most likely have to take the chance and purchase the film. It was very hard to find and ebay or Amazon is the only way you'll be able to find it. This movie reminded me a little of Firecracker, House of Sand and Fog, and 11:14. Mouth to Mouth is bizarre and is really "out there" so you need to watch it with an open mind.

P.S: Congraduations to Ms. Page for her Oscar nomination and I'm sure she won't let the instant fame get to her head and she'll continue to pick original and great scripts.

What the hell?

[Irishchatter · 1/10 · 3 January 2016]

That's all I can describe it, it is just a poorly done movie. I haven't a blooming clue what's happening with Ellen Pages character. Is she being kidnapped or did she sign up to be with those gang of people? I couldn't believe they were speaking German as well in an all English movie, this isn't even set in Germany, it just looks like the location is in America.

This movie felt really wrong and distasteful, the storyline should've been properly done but instead, it was rather boring and annoying. I really regret touching this movie ever! It just doesn't mean anything or it is a complete waste of time!

Don't watch it folks!

S.P.A.R.K. - Street People Armed with Radical Knowledge

[TxMike · 22 September 2012]

I found this movie on Netflix streaming movies. I had recently re-watched 'Juno' and wanted to see a few other roles Ellen Page had before she became famous. The title comes from an early scene where some 'SPARK' members are demonstrating mouth-to-mouth one evening in the streets of Berlin. There also is a much later scene where it was used to try to save someone. But on a more symbolic level it could apply to what the members of the SPARK cult provide for each other, for survival.

Ellen Page is London high-schooler Sherry . She just doesn't seem to identify with the rigid life and decides to just go away, joining up with the others in SPARK, headed eventually to Portugal in the SPARK bus. Natasha Wightman plays Sherry's mother, Rose , soon hitting the road to look for Sherry, and quite unexpectedly finds her.

Eric Thal is the defacto leader of SPARK, and as is the case with cults, he makes the rules and decides what the punishment is if someone breaks them. But his method is even more insidious, he befriends the prettiest, has sex with them, then shuns them. As Sherry finds out the hard (no pun intended) way. As they eventually stand up to him, explaining he 'sucks the souls out of people.'

I suppose the main thrust of the story is the overused 'coming of age' experience, this for Sherry. She finally wises up and breaks free, but in a twist her mother decides staying with SPARK is what she really wants out of life.

It is not an easy movie to watch, mainly because you know there are street people like that all over. But it is a good watch for Ellen Page, she is amazingly good.

Utterly disappointing

[ivovanderavert · 4/10 · 11 April 2012]

Through the years, I've become a huge fan of Ellen Page and I must admit that this was the sole reason I wanted to see this film. But ultimately, this film was a real bummer.

Page's acting is superb of course, along with some other actors. But throughout this movie, each genuine tension build-up seems to accumulate in an anticlimax. The movie starts gripping, but then all of a sudden some highly implausible elements are added to the equation, resulting in disappointment and even irritation.

For instance, when Sherry's mother finds her and takes her with her, all of a sudden *she's* the one who wants to stay, while Sherry wants to leave. The way in which Sherry's mother turns into an avid fan just overnight is some kind of 15-year-old story-writing that is a mere insult to the viewer. The scene where Sherry and here mother suddenly start some kind of 'streetdance' along the road is not some kind of comic relief, neither does it have some kind of strange 'symbolism', it's just plain silly.

Moreover, plot elements are just dipped into this movie as if it were a great pan of soup. The one minute, Nancy is alive and well, the other minute, she's dead in the pit without any further explanation. Harry, who has become more and more sadistic and manipulative, just stares blankly at Sherry and Mad Ax as they leave with the van, giving him more than enough time to intervene. It seems that the only person with consistency in her character is Sherry.

However, it must be said that some genuine tension is present, and the whole concept of a semi-cult leader intimidating his followers is convincing.

This movie is the equivalent of trying to sleep while your neighbors are fighting. Every time when the noise fades and you *just* feel comfortable enough to go back to sleep, the noise suddenly comes back.

If it weren't for the good acting (the lead actors definitely 'rescued' this film) and the great music, I'd say that this movie is an all-out slap in the face for anybody who expects a decent indie-movie.

Amazon told me to check it out

[asfgdhfgkjfg · 8/10 · 26 February 2023]

Not sure why this came onto my radar but Amazon recommended it so I thought I would check it out. Based on the real life experiences of director Alison Murray, the movie exists to show how corrupt social groups can become, even when claiming to do something honourable like "helping homeless youth" . It creates characters that we have all met in life and shows how the Sherry character that we all wish we were fights for freedom and basic human rights. Her character is able to challenge the mindless acceptance of abuse of power of the group leader and by the end it seems like the group may unravel because of the chain reaction she starts. Some weird choices in the visual style but overall a good looking movie also. I would give it a strong recommendation.

Hippie style after school special

[sinatrad · 5/10 · 12 June 2008]

My two favorite topics of all time are cults and homeless teen runaways. I've written several stories combining the two. Other than Jimmy and Judy (2006), which sells its characters more as fugitives than homeless, I have never seen these two subjects merged on screen before. Mouth to Mouth should be my favorite movie.

The problem is that throughout the film I couldn't shake the feeling that writer/director Alison Murray was my hippie guidance counselor who had written this film after listening to a Henry Rollins spoken word album.

Murray does a good enough job of depicting the allure of cults for troubled youths. Mind you, this is not the kind of cult that I would like to join and their objectives are rather contrived and obvious, but the parties look fun all the same. And the film does look great. There are dazzling shots with fire and dual movement. But the fire and the actors (who, for the most part are all very good) are meant to remind viewers of Burning Man.

Relationships become overly sentimental while the film refuses to accept that it is anything but subtle. This turns out to be a real problem because the characters display intense and irrational behavior but, because they are not allowed to at any point explain their actions or emotions, they become unrealistic.

The film moves from presenting us with clever solutions for homeless teens to preaching to us about the dangers of cults too quickly. We are never given the opportunity to rationalize or justify Harry's (Eric Thal) actions. The switch is flipped from fun family (that is clearly a cult) to evil controlling cult. This again denies the film subtlety and realism.

This is both a coming of age movie in a fun setting and a sort of hip after school special. Audiences are told to use their imagination to find redemption in the ending and Ellen Page is back where she started after learning some 'valuable life lessons'.

But what are we left with for having watched this? If you don't like overblown coming-of-age flicks that promise more thrills than they deliver and you already know not to be seduced by a cult, then not a whole lot.

George Orwell

[ahnafhabib-87040 · 9/10 · 26 February 2023]

Despite the risky 'cutting edge' nature of the film, ultimately the simple story of 'doublespeak' and 'group think' in the style of George Orwell's Animal Farm or Nineteen Eight Four rings true as a warning against any movement or ideology that leaves no space for critical thinking or individuality. Production design is amazing and captures that 80's europunk vibe. This movie has a raw energy that grips me . It reminds me of the best road movies where the characters take us on their journey and we feel the wind in on our hair. For better or for worse we share that teenage energy of heading out into the world in search of paradise. I like the cinematography and the edgy texture of the 16mm ( I assume ) as well as the casting which creates authentic characters , from the gutter punks to the well meaning mother, and the sleazy cult leader.

A terrible movie that starts off good

[RaidersOfTheLostCommunist · 2/10 · 22 June 2023]

Was a huge Ellen Paige growing up, like most fans I saw Juno when it came out then went back and watch her catalogue of films. Some of her indie stuff is not bad, this one is terrible though.

This movie starts off good, Ellen playing a rebellious teenage girl (something she did a lot in her indie films), but after about the 20-30 minute mark, this movie just becomes a terrible and boring movie.

They literally meet some people in a weird cult, then suddenly for the rest of the film they are picking fruits and stuff in a camp and it sort of just stays there.

I don't even know what this movie is honestly about anymore at that point, and it stays with the cult and just ends.

Yeah, it is bad.

2/10.

Documentary style story

[pinookio · 10/10 · 28 January 2023]

I loved Alison Murray's documentaries Train on The Brain, Carny, and Caprichosos de San Telmo so I was happy to find this dramatic movie by the same director and it seems like this movie captures a gritty documentary style while telling a relevant and emotional story. Its the story of a young person who wants to belong to something meaningful and to create change in the world but who is too naive and innocent to understand that she is being preyed upon because of her vulnerabilities. I have watched documentaries about real cults and this movie seems to capture in a believable way what happened in those real groups.

Entertaining with a message

[hahnaf · 10/10 · 26 February 2023]

This is a great first feature. Some would accuse me of exaggerating but trust me it is much better than artificial and unrealistic Hollywood. A low budget movie that takes risks, with great sequences of teenage partying and adventure. This film has a heart inside that pumps blood to every sequence of it. There is loneliness, vulnerability, idealism, and idealism cynically exploited. I could easily relate to the characters. Speaking of characters, Max Mccabe Looks is the most charismatic actor I've seen, he dominates the screen along with Ellen / Elliot Page . Natasha Wightman ( who was in V for Vendetta ) is really good and is convincing that she puts her own desires above the needs of her own daughte. August Diehl who was in Inglorious Basterds is charming and creepy. Not crazy about the performance of Eric Thal as the cult leader.

Indie Classic

[s-15688 · 9/10 · 26 January 2023]

I like Indie films and this one feels like a classic of the early 2000's, telling a story set in the 1980's with a gritty aesthetic and punk grunge soundtrack including The Stranglers Nice and Sleazy. I notice that Jim Sturgess and August Diehl have roles here and they both went out to have strong careers, not to mention Elliot ( Ellen ) Page. The interactions between the young street life characters feel authentic to me and I was invested to know what would happen to the vulnerable young woman at the heart of a disturbing story about how good intentions can go horribly wrong when we turn our individuality over to an all powerful leader.

Moving and Unexpected

[raakib-51068 · 9/10 · 26 January 2023]

Mouth to Mouth is a moving story with an unexpected twist. We follow a disillusioned teenage girl looking to find a place to belong , a journey that takes her hitchhiking across Europe and finally into the arms of a cult with a utopian project and a domineering leader. ( I heard it is based on the writer's real life experiences as a teenager in Europe in the 1980's. ) I really liked the cinematography that reminded me a bit of Chris what's his name, the British ( ? ) cinematographer of Wong Kar Wai's early films. The locations of Berlin, Spain and Portugal look amazing and also Camden Market ( I think ? ) in London. Loved this movie.

Lauihsaihbsh

[Raisethesailss · 10/10 · 13 April 2013]

THE SCRIPT WAS INCREDIBLE I have a bias here but if you like Larry Clark movies then you will absolutely love this movie People complained about the quality but it adds to it Like Quentin Tarantino's' "Planet Terror" the DVD came with the gritty filmy black and white feel and the normal quality I Couldn't IMAGINE WATCHING PLANET TERROR IN REGULAR QUALITY in fact I barely noticed because it goes with the movie like how Mouth to Mouth is

It really is heart wrenching and I cried :s there's some controversy with the sex scene Ellen Page does it perfectly. The cast was emotional and real. In the scene where she runs to her mom in the hammock she says I WAITED which I'm assuming she meant she waited as in her virginity I feel like I relate to Nancy or ax Ax is such a genuine character and Nancy was a teen-rebel with unsure dreams

It is a grungy sad film but scenes such as when sherry and her mom are "dancing" as well as the end where it ends quite happy but reality its kinda sad The ending is of sherry and ax running happily transitioning into white screen I understand how some may not liked the ending. Though it would be cute for ax and sherry to have some sort of romantic relationship but that wasn't what it was about I feel like it resembled freedom and there's hope,never to late..,etc. The writer defiantly has a unique style which should be greatly known for

Im not aware of any movies by the same writer/director but I will be looking forward to it

Super relevant to today's groupthink society

[NeavehStrand · 10/10 · 8 February 2023]

As we are today living in a world where people adopt points of view with zero critical thinking, only because these viewpoints are fashionable, trendy and virtue-signalling, I found it interesting how this story set in the 1980's reflects the same thing happening in a different context. Vulnerable young people searching for identity get sucked into a seemingly philanthropic cause only to later discover a sinister narcissist is using them for his own power hungry mindgames. Groupthink takes over, no one is willing to point out the emperor's new clothes. I like the grainy 16mm of the film, with it's strong contrast and rich colour palatte. The young actors are compelling.

Coercion masquerading as Rebellion

[pikac-74095 · 9/10 · 26 February 2023]

Possibly, Mouth to Mouth is not to everyone's taste. Not everyone loves criticism of control and coercion masquerading as rebellion. Not everyone loves experimentation and risk taking in film - Mouth to Mouth has lots of this. For the director's first feature, this film has a flair and playfulness as well as a depth of argument. The story is cunningly woven around the lead character's search for acceptance and meaning. It is also a virtuoso performance by Elliot Page, still Ellen, who treats the audience to a multi-faceted brave young woman character - we need to see more female characters of this style. The 80's music of The Stranglers that opens the film gives a taste of the urgency and grit that will follow. Great movie.

Jim Jones Kool-Aid anyone?

[phiup · 29 August 2013]

This story unfolds when our main character, Bat, played by Ellen Page is invited to join a social movement called spark. They help young homeless kids find resources and try to educate them.

As the movement grows, so does the leader's desires. He eventually recruits these young burnouts into relocating to a vineyard somewhere in Spain. Bat is at first all in on the whole commune thing and is working diligently to prove her worth.

She is shunned by the leader, Harry, and in an attempt to gain favor with him, she has sex with him. (no nudity, sorry pervo's) This backfires as with most demigod figures in history has a real problem with libido. His performance on the night was lack luster. Bat tries to comfort him and he recoils and then turns in back on her in a communal meeting and she is ostracized by the group and punished.

The veil is lifted and now Bat is seeing and thinking clearly. She tries to convince her mom, who in an attempt to stop her was sucked in to commune, to leave and get away. She fails.

This movie is very good reminder of why communal living, whilst great in theory, is not so great in its application.

Morale of the story. DIY DO IT YOURSELF Think for yourself. When it looks wrong, feels wrong, sounds wrong....IT'S WRONG!!!!