New Cinema

Summer of ’85

Été 85

France/Begium

2020

100'

About

Only teenagers can love this much. The main character of François Ozon’s new film is the sixteen-year-old Alexis who has just recently moved to the Norman coast with his parents. The boy has a literary talent, he’s curious of the world and obsessed about death. When he sails too far away on his little boat, a stranger saves him from serious problems – it was David, a boy as beautiful as a cloudless sky. From here, it’s just one step from a friendship which – as we know from the beginning of the film from Alexis’ relation, who is also the narrator of the story – ends quickly and tragically. To know “how” and “why” one has to be patient, taking delight in the last summer so beautiful in the lives of both boys. Ozon once again proves that he is a talented film stylist and can skilfully intertwine a romantic thread with a criminal one, by the same token fuelling the mysterious atmosphere and the scale of teenage emotions. The mood is splendidly built by music (“Sailing” by Rod Steward!), colours, and above all the duo of two young actors – Felix Lefebvre and Benjamin Voisin, French cousins of Timothée Chalamet.

The script was loosely based on Aidan Chambers’ novel “Dance on My Grave”.

Credits

Director: François Ozon

Screenwriter: François Ozon

Cinematographer: Hichame Alaouie

Composer: Jean-Benoit Dunckel

Editor: Laure Gardette

Cast: Felix Lefebvre, Benjamin Voisin, Philippine Velge, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi

Producer : Eric Altmayer, Nicolas Altmayer

Production Company: Manderin Productions, Foz, France 2 Cinema, Scope Pictures, Playtime Productions

Images