What do you dream of when you're 16-years-old and in a seaside resort in Normandy in the 1980s? A best friend? A lifelong teen pact? Scooting off on adventures on a boat or a motorbike? Living life at breakneck speed? No. You dream of death. Because you can't get a bigger kick than dying. And that's why you save it till the very end. The summer holidays are just beginning, and this story recounts how Alexis grew into himself.
"Summer of 85" reminds us what makes the film so great, blending the energy of youth with the curveballs of fate. It's a story that's frequently awkward, sincere and truthful about adolescence in a way you don't see much nowadays. Every element of Summer's craft makes you swoon, and each scene is more touching than the next. It captures the joys and heartbreaks of first love, and the Seine-Maritime coast has never looked better than it does as lensed by cinematographer Hichame Alaouie. The film has fresh and vibrant performances, from newcomers Félix Lefebvre and Benjamin Voisin, spot-on costumes and gorgeous cinematography - it's shot in 16mm to evoke an earlier era. It's one of the best coming of age stories in recent memory.
"Summer of 85" reminds us what makes the film so great, blending the energy of youth with the curveballs of fate. It's a story that's frequently awkward, sincere and truthful about adolescence in a way you don't see much nowadays. Every element of Summer's craft makes you swoon, and each scene is more touching than the next. It captures the joys and heartbreaks of first love, and the Seine-Maritime coast has never looked better than it does as lensed by cinematographer Hichame Alaouie. The film has fresh and vibrant performances, from newcomers Félix Lefebvre and Benjamin Voisin, spot-on costumes and gorgeous cinematography - it's shot in 16mm to evoke an earlier era. It's one of the best coming of age stories in recent memory.