i had heard all the hype about this movie when it was first released and when i finally got to view it, late one evening, i was far from pleased. i've seen my share of gay/lesbian cinema but this had to be by far the worse one to hit the screen. it was incredibly slow moving and a complete bore. i have to agree with one of the other reviewers when he/she said it was a horrible film. i found Trisha Todd's acting to be so wooden and stiff that i had a difficult time caring about her character. by the end of the film i just wanted someone to kill her off and put an end to her misery. the long-awaited love scene didn't make things any better. there's a lot better lesbian films out there and this isn't one of them. enough said.

Set in a women's writing retreat in Oregon, Claire of the Moon begins it's long and tedious journey. The first time I saw the movie, all I could think is, "When are they going to do IT?", but when I saw it for the second time, I got the message Nicole Conn tries to convey. Buried under the rather stiff acting of Trisha Todd and Karen Trumbo (and for that matter, all the other actors in this movie) is the most complicated problem in any relationship: exploring intimacy. The intentions are good for all involved in revealing Clare and Noel's fear of intimacy, but poorly followed throughout the tale. Conn tries too hard to make this view analytical and intelligent but succeeds in making it so intelligent that it becomes tiresome. Not that I did not like this movie; I did. But I endure this movie only for the final scene. The end leaves us wanting for the real story to finally begin, but it is too late...the movie is over. Now for the confession: I really like this movie, but only with a grain of salt, and that is how it should be viewed.

With the continual release of GOOD lesbian films, it confuses me why this film is still so highly recommended and touted as a "lesbian classic." To put it bluntly, this movie is terrible in every way. The story line is contrived, the sound is bad, the direction is flat and the characters are unrealistic and unlikeable. Not to mention the film is terribly dated. Although it was released in 1992, it feels more like a film that was made in 1985. Although I am all about lesbian movies, I can not comprehend this addiction to bad film. Try something good: Better Than Chocolate, Fire, or But I'm A Cheerleader are worlds better than Claire of the Moon could ever pretend to be.

This was a wonderfully done sensual and seductive movie. I first saw it a few years back and was mesmerized by the playfulness of the words of the two main characters, Noel and Claire. Playfulness of course then leading to a wonderful development of their relationship.I've since bought the video, and musical score.I find the film hauntingly erotic.Feb. 5. 2000.