Bilitis

This story is based upon Pierre Louys' turn-of-the-century novel, deals with a young schoolgirl's awakening to love. It takes place during her summer vacation at the home of a family friend, Melissa. The young girl, Bilitis, is shocked when she witnesses her friend and her husband making love, however Melissa encourages Bilitis to discover the aspect of love by seeing a young photographer, Lucas. When Lucas tries to make love to Bilitis, she rebuffs him and runs to Melissa, who in comforting Bilitis finds herself responding to her kisses and embraces. Melissa tells Bilitis there must be nothing more between them.

Bilitis discovers Melissa's husband is with another woman, so she decides to find another man for Melissa. She returns with Nikias, a rich young man who has loved too many too well, and both Melissa and he know they cannot have an affair. In the end Melissa and Lucas becomes lovers and Bilitis returns to her school realizing she is not yet ready for adulthood.

The quality of the VHS movie, while watchable, is not very good. However, the sound quality is even worse. There is a lot of high frequency hiss that should have been filtered out in production.

There is adult nudity, plenty of earl teen nudity (front/rear), adult themes and sexual situations (between Melissa and Bilitis). This is one of David Hamilton's better productions, on par with Laura and certainly better than Tender Cousins.

Bilitis is a coming of age film about an innocent girl staying with Melissa (a family friend) and her husband. She learned some painful lessons about love during her stay, such as witnessing the husband forcing himself on his wife every night, his infidelity, and Bilitis's own contentious romance with a local boy named Lucas. She decided to help Melissa by finding her a lover. However, Melissa and Lucas became romantic, and Bilitis returns to boarding school heartbroken but wiser in love.

Overall, the story and cinematography are good, and the actors (especially Patti D'Arbanville) are talented and attractive. However, I couldn't overcome the fact that Ms. D'Arbanville looked much older than her classmates. In fact, she was 26 years old at the time. This shatters the illusion of a teenager finding her first romance. Casting adults as teens is common, and if you can see past the 10 year spread between actor and character, this film deserves four stars. Additional note: most of the actresses appeared nude in the film, including several teens.

Some coming of age films of merit starring actual teens are Hamilton's other films "Laura" and "Tender Cousins", as well as "Beau Pere", "Pretty Baby", "Little Lips", and "36 Fillette".

The english photographer & director,David Hamilton...& music score,lovly as ever by Francis Lai..makes this story about a young schoolgirl's awaking to love,pure magic.The beauitful

PATTI D'ARBANVILE..as..BILITIS..is just breathtaking.Sure there's a whole lot of nudity.But it's not pron.There's no girls running around having sex.It just shows them as girls togehter might be in the vision of the director.I happen to own an ORIGINAL VHS..it's a PERFECT ORIGINAL.It can be order at"MOVIES UNLIMITED".That's how I got it.And it took a lot of years.I once had it on BETA.I now have it on a dvd-burner print.PERFECT!

The story takes place around the beginning of the 20th Century.

Bilitis forsakes the man she loves to give him to her best friend.Played by MONA KRISTENSEN..as..Melissa.It all takes place on her summer vacation away from home.Bilitis discovers Melissa's husband is with another woman,so she decides to find another man for her.Doing so Bilitis is realizing she is not yet ready herself for adulthood.She will make you laugh..& cry.

Set in England..it's a real beauiful love cult story that people have missed.Ms.D'Arbanville..later played Chevy Chase's girlfriend in 1981 movie.."MORDERN PROBLEMS"And she's still beauitful then as in Bilitis in 1977. A MUST HAVE CLASSIC FOREIGN MOTION PICTURE for the collector.Take a step away from today's Blue Screen..specil effects with people on strings..and watch a real movie that will have you thinking of.."BILITIS!".