not original. far to be impressive. a correct image of the frustrations of a teenagers and his universe. about love and sport, competition and conflict with parents, love and sexual interest, desires, confusion, angry, joy. a bitter blend of emotions and gestures who are far to be original and who seems be, after the final credits, almost a demonstration of improvisation. because the end is confuse and entire tension goes to nowhere. because the old French recipes of the exploration of emotions as basis of complex characters falls in this case. it remains one of many European films about teenagers. dramatic, seductive in few parts, amusing and nice. and, maybe, only problem remains the lost of direction in the middle of story who impose to reduce at classic clichés a promising theme.

I enjoyed the film itself, though deeply disturbed by the turn of the plot. The three of them falling into a Ménage à trois, seemed natural enough at the time, and obviously the sex was extraordinary for all three of them. But then Mickael goes psycho about it, and calls his girlfriend a slut! She is more realistic and existential about the fact that the sex was 1,000 times better than with just him alone. Mickael's puritanical backlash was so disappointing. Vanessa cannot get Mickael to admit that he enjoyed it.I agree with some of the criticisms of the camera angles and film editing. It was not clear in the sex scene that Vanessa had sexual intercourse with Mickael as well as Clément, not until revealed later when Vanessa is discussing it with the school nurse. The scene is spontaneous, hot, and passionate - and leaves you wanting more! But my disappointment is in the character of Mickael, and the outcome of the plot. It's a movie! It's just one plot of many possible. Well designed, well played - and when you find it disturbing, that is Art! As many remarked, the film and situation are not "Gay" in the sense of homosexual attraction. But it is "Gay" in the sense of the Ménage à trois being a "Non-traditional relationship." Although this film is about Adolescents, the immaturity of Mickael can occur in most older people too. I have searched chat rooms for years, trying to find examples of people who have managed polyamorous relationships without jealousy or abuse. Even in fiction, it is usually treated as a transitory state with tragic endings. (See "Jules et Jim", "Cabaret") I still believe in the Possible!

I would have gave this movie a 10 without a doubt. However,I hate the cutting room table! I'm sure if this movie was shown without being chopped up it would have been perfect! Don't get me wrong, I like this movie very much. What I hated was the fact I did know how Mickael went from hitting his girlfriend in the face to crying because she didn't want him sexually in store dressing room? I mean what happened from one point to the other? Is it on the cutting room floor? I would like to see this movie without the over cutting. Or see a remake of it with American actors.Over all the movie is well acted. You can feel the strong friendship between Mickael and Clement. As a matter of fact I'm surprised that the two did not make love with each other without the girl from the way they play together. If anyone ever had, or have a best friend and a lover. And you and the best friend shared your lover; you can fill in the blanks that is missing from this movie. If you never did such a thing you most likely will feel that the situation is unreal.

Other reviews have talked about how frank this film is, especially in terms of male frontal nudity. Well, those who've seen Grande Ecole with its frequently naked actors and expect something similar are in for a big disappointment. Other than a few seconds in the judo team locker room, the two leads' side by side shower lasts a grand total of 15 seconds. The female lead has comparably brief frontal moments. A lot of this film's marketing is geared to the gay male audience, but those expecting even a hint of homoeroticism between the two male leads (best friends who have a three-way with the girlfriend of one of them) will be most disappointed. There is not even the hint of either one's being interested in the other, or even scarcely aware that the other is part of the menage a trois. As a film, Douches Froides is curiously uninvolving; the viewer gets very little sense of who these three young people are, of how they are feeling, of why they behave as they do. About one hour of the original cut was deleted; perhaps this is why the finished film seems frustratingly undeveloped. Stick with Grande Ecole, a French film which more than delivers on its promises.