Sommer 85 (2020)

Sommer 85: Directed by François Ozon. With Félix Lefebvre, Benjamin Voisin, Philippine Velge, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi. While boating, Alexis’s boat capsizes and almost drowns before being rescued by David, who ultimately ends up as his boyfriend.

“What do you dream of when youu0026#39;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 canu0026#39;t get a bigger kick than dying. And thatu0026#39;s why you save it till the very end. The summer holidays are just beginning, and this story recounts how Alexis grew into himself.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Summer of 85u0026quot; reminds us what makes the film so great, blending the energy of youth with the curveballs of fate. Itu0026#39;s a story thatu0026#39;s frequently awkward, sincere and truthful about adolescence in a way you donu0026#39;t see much nowadays. Every element of Summeru0026#39;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 – itu0026#39;s shot in 16mm to evoke an earlier era. Itu0026#39;s one of the best coming of age stories in recent memory.”