Forbidden Sun (1989)

Director:

Zelda Barron

Writers:

Robin Hardy (writer)
Jesse Lasky Jr. (screenplay)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

After a rape at a girl's gymnastics school, questions arise and bring to light ancient Cretan rituals.

Plot Keywords:

Crete | Rape | Independent Film

Cast

Lauren Hutton	...	Mrs. Lake
Cliff De Young	...	Professor Lake
Svetislav Goncic	...	Ulysses
Robert Beltran	...	Jack (coach)
Viveka Davis	...	Jane
Renée Estevez	...	Elaine
Christine Harnos	...	Steph (as Kristina Harnos)
Samantha Mathis	...	Paula
Renee Props	...	Betsey
Enver Petrovci	...	Lt. Ionnides
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Melinda May Cukic	...	Miss Stonehouse
Simon Laffy	...	Danny
Mark Lyons	...	Rory
David Marlowe	...	Andy
Marcus Myers	...	Steve
Steve Phypers	...	Pete
Maxwell Bruce Smith	...	Mike

Also Known As:

Bulldance

Runtime:

Portugal:85 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Lokrum, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Company:

Filmscreen International

Good idea spoiled by mediocre direction {spoilers included}.

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Being keen on ancient civilizations I was intrigued by the story outline: an elite gymnastics camp in Crete is run by an American couple who also teach their students about the culture of the Minoan civilization that once inhabited the area. The Minoans worshipped the bull so the legend of the Minotaur is included along with a reference to the "Bull Dance" during which ancient-Cretian athletes were said to somersault a charging bull.

** Warning: spoilers follow **

What the film really becomes is a voyeuristic saga of young women in flimsy clothes. There are no male students but a convenient all-male rock band using a villa on a neighbouring island as a studio provide opportunities for inter-personal bonding.

The coach (Beltran) is a single young man whose voice is about one-half octave too high (Hutton's voice has more timbre) and the only other member of staff who ever materializes is another non-local woman who teaches local history. The gymnasium routines happen early in the movie, are very standard yet lovingly filmed in slow-mo. Enjoy, because you ain't gonna see any more.

There's a sub-plot about a sexual attack on the newest student - we find out later the perpetrator is the batty professor/husband whose physical frustration has been brought on by his wife's lack of interest in bed. The curious finale shows the classic Rebellious Student Who Has Been Emotionally Traumatized making a stumbling vaulting somersault over a very stationary real-life bull as some sort of cathartic measure. The special effect is not very realistic even for the era this film was made.

I watched it to the end in the vain hope of some improvement but this was not to be. A waste of viewing time and unworthy of either Lauren Hutton's or Robert Beltran's efforts.