Katherine Brooks on Loving Annabelle controversy

[@notknown7705]

I lost it when Annabelle grabbed hold of Simone and said "I won't let go of you". It makes me cry thinking about that. Such a beautiful, innocent, loving scene. That's love.

[@judeparise7130]

D

[@judeparise7130]

One of the few movies I really would pay to see a sequal to

[@soleil2000soleil]

Great that such people as Katherine exist - she worked on her project 8 years and made it real - deep respect !

[@Twainiac]

Katherine Brooks you wrote and directed a GREAT yes i say it again a GREAT movie! just wish there was a Loving Annabelle part 2 :)

[@herasmarket]

How come no one is bringing up the abuse that was probably brought on by the Mother Superior. We see her as a leader and brushing away a strand of Simone's hair and so we the audience can see the Mother must have taken advantage of Simone and she was Simone's aunt and in my mind that's incest. The only reason why the Mother Superior at the end of the movie turned Simone in was because she was jealous -- but no one has even brought that up. I loved the movie because it was a relationship between two women -- and yes this happens all the time. I loved the ending when Simone ended up taking that huge cross with her as a reminder of Annabelle who really gave Simone a glimpse of the wonderful relationship she could have with a woman. That it wasn't taboo despite what the Catholic religion and mainstream society says -- love is love. You have to be true to yourself to really find who you are and Simone found that and for that it was worth going to jail over. Wonderful story of how women as well as men deal with these conflicting issues that society has placed upon them. As Catherine stated it is when you as a person an individual can step outside that box and see that it doesn't matter how society thinks it's how you as an individual thinks and feels. As Annabelle stated to Simone we did nothing wrong (that is so true).....

[@GummyBearRecords]

I noticed that too, super creepy

[@notknown7705]

Completely agree. The Mother Superior had a thing for the teacher. It's obvious. Even when she was scolding Simone at the end, it wasn't because Simone did some awful thing, it was because she cared about her and was deeply concerned for Simone's career and role as a teacher.

[@vickiehenry1650]

I totally agree. The Mother Superior was jealous of Annabelle and Simone. I mean... Who wouldn't be in love with Simone? Or even Annabelle? Great movie. All of the Wolfe films that I have are very well written and they have wonderful story lines. Especially Nicole Conn's. Hers have more substance, more meaning.

[@nicoleettegale1973]

Ahm, there's this alternate ending where it shows that Simone didn't end up in jail while Annabelle goes to Simone's beach house. The alternate ending let the audiences to think whatever happens to them at the end.

[@herasmarket]

@@nicoleettegale1973 Yeap Annabelle was just shy of a birthday and so was 18 most likely before Simone went to trial. Loved that second ending where it looked like Annabelle had stayed in touch with Simone while she was in jail waiting for trial. Annabelle had Simone's car and had the key to the cabin. She waited for Simone's arrival. Love that commitment - even though Annabelle as well as Simone both came from very wealthy parents they both knew how difficult it would be to be in a lesbian relationship coming from those (republicans) background. They decided their love was worth that risk.

[@greenpeas154]

It is a beautiful love story, not a sexual predator story. Period. Thank you, Katherine! This movie is my lesbian love bible.

[@bmcc4635]

Katherine wrote this movie brilliantly! I was in a very similar situation when in school so this movie is v realistic! The characters chosen are spot on. Simone is very irresistible! Well done, great movie:) (from Ireland)

[@soleil2000soleil]

I love to listen to Katherine, she's such amazing personallity, a strong, talented, sensitive woman.

[@jennyhumphries8824]

Wish it didn't end that way felt so sorry for Simone .

[@mandimoos]

+Jenny Humphries there is an alternate ending which shows them getting together,

[@Chanelleopperman]

@@mandimoos can you please sent me the link for that ending

[@trixi69thegamer28]

Holy crap! Really? Where can I find the alternate ending?

[@jennyhumphries8824]

You can see it in you tube

[@nicoleettegale1973]

@@trixi69thegamer28 its here in youtube, just search "loving annabelle alternate ending"

[@00285varo]

I freaking looooove this movie I’ve watched it over and over so many times I wish there was a second part 😩❤️❤️ you seem like an amazing director ❤️😊

[@gabomegaomg2401]

RIP Simone :(

[@CanChikMay]

thank you wolfe video from the bottm of my heart for bringing this story and others like it to the masses.. its wonderful.

[@aneta3098]

Katherine is totally right ,nobody should look from the student- teacher situation.This is a very stressble movie and anyone who finds himself/herself in a situation were he/she cant be with the person that he/she love is going to understand what she is talking about.It's all about the LOVE !

[@cetviesauthor-writer.3043]

I have been this youth, with someone really closer to my age. not including the teacher i had a crush on for two years prior but with whom i was only on speaking term. i still am in my heart. though ea waiting for her crushed me, and thankfully i am married, someone accepted me with those deep scars that some days i wished i never had to have. it crushed me for two decades so more so that the unconditional love it sprung from is now still is, but somewhere else that within some figure that does not need me. the illusion of love is really creative, as it has to be planted everywhere since its soil rejected it. but coming to the realisation of pursuing a lie after years of racing, is something is better to realise, when there is finally someone in one' s life. excluded.

[@suminahhp7457]

Good job.. But I still sad about passed of Ms Diane.. She is like an angle.. I just say.. Rest in Peace Ms Diane Love You so Much..

[@nibiruplanetx784]

She is missed,but remembered.☹

[@dirtribbonaddiction]

This was a great film, a quiet battle of wills. I like Annabelle's patience and persistence and Simone's failed, but noble attempts to do the "right thing". I would like to see a follow up film, set in the now, showing how the relationship has fared: what they've overcome, has anyone stepped up to support them. Maybe they are considering marriage and Simone is uneasy about it. That's a possible theme. Just seems like there would be more to explore with these two characters, and certainly fans would love it.

[@trixi69thegamer28]

I totally relate to film. It reminded me so much of my own experiences in high school in a lot of ways. So many impacted relationships to consider besides Annabelle/Simone: Simone/Mother Immaculata, Simone/Michael, Annabelle/Kat, Simone/Cat, Annabelle/Colins, Simone/Colins Annabelle/Mom They all fade into the background as these two women are completely focused on each other.

[@Pb_sis]

simone sure was irresistible xD story was really nice

[@NobodyGreaterthanJesus]

I love this movie so much! I’m nt gay, but I saw this story as a beautiful love story! Gender didn’t matter to me cause the chemistry between the two main characters was so strong I wondered if they had a thing outside of the movie! Who can resist Simone tho! She is a perfect combination of strength and vulnerability!

[@veelegendary2243]

Wish there was a part 2, really loved this movie

[@XGLDF]

Ok, so about "Annabelle was gonna be 18 in four days" and "You have to be able to look at it objectively". When it comes to our personal opinions on a specific case, sure, I will give Katherine the point that we should judge objectively. But from a law perspective, we have to draw the line somewhere, which we've agreed to keep at 18. That doesn't mean somebody is guaranteed to be mature after 18, nor that you aren't before 18. However, if you ask us to put "law" aside and just judge the case objectively, then I think it would still be wrong even if she was 18. So setting law aside, being on the bridge to 18 has no importance to me. I find Annabelle to not be very wise at all, which is normal for that age. She strikes me as a young girl, not yet fully in terms with the full meaning of love besides passion, yet "rebellious" enough and willing to take the path: That she will choose to pursue that "teacher crush" that many of us has had when we were young. For me, she especially shows immaturity with the line "It's going to be OK..." She goes through life without any consideration for the risk of other people, in this case Simone, who I just feel is a victim of Annabelle's seduction more than truly in love. It's like Annabelle becomes the person who sparks the same rebellious spirit in a fragile and therefore easy-manipulated Simone, to put it roughly. It's obviously not with bad intent, but selfishly and inconsiderately.

[@pidayrocks2235]

The line "It's going to be OK" to me didn't seem very sincere; I don't think that showed immaturity, I think it showed Annabelle trying to comfort Simone (especially considering the song Annabelle sang to her beforehand about being Simone's shelter in the storm) in a situation where Simone was clearly on the verge of trouble. Certainly she wasn't naive to the situation; just look at her expression and the speechlessness she displays outside of the minor attempt at comfort (those aforemented words). Nor do I think Annabelle manipulated Simone (in the sense that Simone didn't truly want any of it happen). There's no denying that Annabelle was the aggressor, but I think she realized that Simone had put up a shit ton of mental barriers because of her situation: her former lover, if I understood the note correctly, committed suicide. She grew up with the church and teaching in a catholic school and thus needing to hide her true self all this time... and all that hiding is what cost her the first love of her life. Annabelle needed to break down those barriers to allow Simone to be who she wanted to be. If you want to call that manipulation, then fine; but every indication I detected point to Simone truly loving Annabelle, especially after they were caught. The way Simone questions "Did that really just happen?" was in such a way that showed her worst nightmares coming to fruition... that moment is exactly why she built all those walls to seal her true self inside; yet when confronted for it, she felt no remorse. That was true love.

[@vanianavmun8487]

The way the director arguments about simone and anabelle's relationship just doesn't sit well with me. "Nowadays teenage girls are very sexualized", "she's very irrisistable" and "anabelle is very mature for her age"... They just sound like excuses a predator would use to justify their sexual actions with a minor, its just doesn't feel right at all to me. The only problem i have with the movie is the age difference, if it only were about academic professionalism or religion I wouldn't mind, but the age difference... it's disgusting.

[@nicoleettegale1973]

@@pidayrocks2235 when Simone says to Mother Immaculata " I expect you don't understand, but I love her" there she shows her real identity that she's gay too. Its just that she needs to hide her true identity Because she is in a Catholic school. edit: some misspelled words

[@herasmarket]

mmm there maybe some truth to that -- they did build a relationship though and I think in Simone's life she needed someone like Annabelle. Since Simone was most likely in a relationship with her girlfriend who didn't want to face society and their damnation and so committed suicide. This left Simone heartbroken over a love she felt she had to hide. Times have changed and society is becoming more acceptable of same sex relationships. I came out and my parents were all mad but that wore off over time. I ended up marrying my wife and we've been together now for 20 years. We raised my youngest child together. My granddaughter back when she was 12 took me and my partner at that time and introduced us to her teacher as I'd like to introduce you to my two grandmas. I was shocked and at the same time thrilled. Times indeed have changed. She is now 22 and we are great grandmas now.

[@koffiecake]

​@vanianavmun8487 Have you been a teen? I go to high school and ik many kids who would try to be like annabelle, they're not really 'unresistable' but maybe to some people they are

[@heathlin1701]

People come on...Kat explained some things that should have never even had to be explained, it is 2012. And she took the time to answers some lingering questions. Not from fans, but critics. If you have an issue, then don't watch it. Don't run off and badmouth the writer and director. Nobody twisted your ARM to watch.

[@failingmonkey]

Great points. I'm sick of folks equating gay with pedophila. People who do so do not understand sexuality. LOL for bringing the frontal lobe argument to the forefront. ;)

[@JPope02]

But if we're being realistic it was a teacher student relationship, which is wrong. Simply because they're in a position of power and professionalism. If it had been a man and a female student it would have been hard to watch and kinda creepy, but because its two women it feels almost safer. It's interesting when you really think about it. And btw I'm a lesbian, so I certainly didn't mind this film and I don't think it was perverse or wrong. I just think it's interesting to look at the other side.

[@patrizialungonelli3247]

Great and moving film, thank you for this work, congratulation to the director Brooks.

[@ChrisKylerDerma]

Definitely should have seen this with the release of Loving Annabelle...."better late than never" as my grandmother used to say.

[@jhoihnmikal2367]

Dear Katherine, the movie was very nice, amazing and awesome, but ending was not happy, we have a request please make such a movie part 2 with very happy ending!!. Please please please!.

[@jhoihnmikal2367]

Dear Katherine, the movie was very very amazing, nice and awesome, we did lot enjoy it, but ending was not happy, we have a request please please make such a movie part 2 of loving annabel with very very happy ending!!!!.. Please please please please, you directed this movie very very awesome❤❤❤❤ .Good LuCk!.

[@nicoleettegale1973]

@@jhoihnmikal2367 there's an alternate ending where they ended up together!!!!!❤️❤️❤️

[@salettischeiss]

From a legal point of view I think the situation is very tricky, but personally I feel okay with "Loving Annabelle"...I don't see a problem there...whole other thing than "Bloomington".

[@queenverwey1248]

Well,what to say. I'm not a lesbian. I'm a church girl,but I'm listening to the lesbian movie to now what is happing in the countries. Look noting in this world your to young for. It doesn't care,if your having feelings for a women or a men the point is that loving someone is a feeling that no one can stop. It happens all the time with young and old. The important thing is that you need to now how to control it and many youth of today don't now how to do that. Loving someone doesn't goes a both age. And feelings and love doesn't count age. It's how you carry your self a round the person that your deeply in love with. What can we do noting. it's a love thing and feeling thing,sex thing. So,it's life.

[@wolfevideo]

Just want to let everyone know that LOVING ANNABELLE is now available to rent or own on digital - worldwide - from WolfeOnDemand [dot] com.

[@doloresaquilina3205]

It is a great movie. This is the only criticism one should make. Love is love. Thank you for ir.

[@doloresaquilina3205]

Sorry I meant "it".

[@thebenchwarmer]

i love how i'm seeing this interview in 2012 >

[@katconro]

I loved this film, and thought the relationship was elegantly and carefully dealt with. Yes there was a student/teacher relationship but the director is so right about how strong, sexually confident Annabelle was and who the actual "preditor" was in the film. Spoiler alert: it wasn't the teacher.

[@shayohem2174]

I like this movie so realistic thumbs up to the writer and directors of this movie to Annabelle and simone great job amazing 👍

[@mariebaldwin4639]

Both Simone and Annabelle was irresistible

[@prettykiray]

Katherine please make another movie Pleasee

[@eldamariabezerra3611]

O filme é real, e por sinal muito bom, a idade é o que menos importa , havendo amor de ambas as partes, o triste de tudo foi o ciúme da madre que afastou as duas. Katherine, que tal a segunda parte com as duas juntas? Adoraria assistir.

[@29adamf]

mine to i totally agree with every word

[@ethylenramos7496]

I really loved the movie. It great..❤️

[@charlize841]

I'm sorry here. Annabelle's age is not important. It is crossing the border between student and teacher. The director's argument diminishes the film for me. Too bad too, for I feel such sympathy for Simone. What a great illustration as to what can happen to someone who is so repressed and not allowed to be herself. Of course the suicide of her lover at such an early age left her devastated, alone, lonely and so sad that she would be vulnerable to the attention from Annabelle. That is, or was, the message for me. No, it is the message for me.

[@skydivinglibrarian]

why not just wait the four days? i mean come on. ethics don't come into it. it just seems heartbreakingly stupid to me, to have sex at that moment when four days later everything would have been fine.

[@teeramirez1624]

skydivinglibrarian I really don't think that their IMPULSIVE actions that evening, considered that option.🤔😉

[@prettykiray]

I got huge crush on my science teacher I was in 2 nd grade that early on I know i liked girls

[@alexisgrey3633]

What she is saying is utter crap, an adult cannot be taken advantage of by a minor however 'sexualised' they are.

[@koffiecake]

Did you even watch the movie