"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. In this case, the love is forbidden for two reasons--it's lesbian and it's between a student and a teacher. That's the basic plot, and everything else in the film revolves around that.

I just reviewed "Sevigne," a movie about a developing relationship between two women. That film was subtle and nuanced. In my opinion, "Loving Annabelle" is neither. It's fairly predictable from the opening scene. A young woman arrives at a Catholic boarding school under heavy escort. It's obvious that she's not happy to be there, and will defy school authority. Then we see her in class with Simone, a beautiful, intelligent woman teacher. The rest of the plot pretty well follows from that. A weak point is that Simone's boy friend, the third corner of the triangle, is obviously far below Simone's level in every respect--there's no real dramatic tension between her feelings for him and her feelings for Annabelle.

The leads are extremely attractive. (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 festival

Finally, in Rochester, almost the entire audience consisted of lesbian couples. It's sad that heterosexuals in Rochester are not perceptive enough to realize that a film about a lesbian relationship can appeal to viewers of all sexual orientations.

I'll begin this review by saying I didn't dislike this film. It was well acted, and looked very very good for an independent film. I guess I just felt like I knew everything that was going to happen before it did. At the beginning of the movie, the scenes seemed very trite and underdeveloped; after a few lines of dialogue and a couple of cuts, we're abruptly taken away to the next part of the story. 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. The filmmaker does a good job of teasing the audience time and time again, to the point where I just gave up any hope of them getting together. She successfully took the film to a point where she could take one of two routes: they end up together, or they never take that chance. The choice she makes works for the tone of the film, even if the ending is a tad abrupt.

All in all, the filmmaker definitely has talent, I just wish there was less ambiguity in the narrative and more character development.

There are a number of reasons why this film is one of my favorites:

1. I really liked the music featured in the film is very different. 2. The two main actresses had such good chemistry and it really showed on screen. 3. The love story gradually built up, making you gripped to the story line. At one point I thought they were not going to get together, so was glad when they eventually did. 4. I really sympathized with Simone's character, and could feel all her frustrations whilst watching the film. She was obviously really unhappy with the man she was with, and he was pressuring her to move in which she clearly didn't want to do. She was obviously very attracted to Annabel, but the fact that it was forbidden, was keeping her from acting on her feelings. Simone was also grieving the loss of her ex girlfriend, and I think the letter in the film indicates that she took her own life. This would obviously make matters even worse. 5. The two main characters are very likeable which makes you want them to get together. If Annabel's character was different I don't think that the film would have been as good. 6. The character of Annabel was played so well Erin Kelly that the Annabel could look at Simone and you could tell exactly what she was thinking. This was especially good during the scenes in the classroom, where Annabelle was looking at Simone really seductively. Simone could obviously sense this, and struggled to ignore it. 7. The other actors all played brilliant parts, and I can't say there was any bad acting in the film. Even though I disliked Catherine's character ,she added a lot to the story line. She eventually was the one who got Annabelle and Simone in trouble. I suppose every film has to have a villain. 8. The kissing scene was done so brilliantly. It's one of my favorite kissing scenes. The rain poring around them, and the way Simone tries to walk away from Annabelle one last time, but Annabelle Grabs her hand, and she can no longer resist her. 9. The sex scene is done so well and is very believable. It is so sexy, and the music in the back ground hugely adds to It. Both actresses were obviously very comfortable with the scene, and a managed to make it just right. 10. The ending is sad, but I think it is right for the film. I have seen an alternative ending ,but it didn't have the same effect as the ending that was chosen. I think the ending says that love over rides all. They loved each other and were willing to take a risk. Love Is not always a happy ending.