Respire (2014)

Respire: Directed by Mélanie Laurent. With Joséphine Japy, Lou de Laâge, Isabelle Carré, Claire Keim. Charlie is an average French suburban teenager, but when she becomes fast friends with Sarah, the rebellious new girl at school, she discovers there’s nothing average about how she feels.

“Respire is in all respect typical French drama. Apparently dry scenes, where you wonder if youu0026#39;re missing something. Restrained and subtle emotions that are confusing and irritating. A couple of dramatic plot twists. And beautiful, good, young actresses. I love it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eJosephine Japy as the introverted Charlie and Lou de Laage as extrovert Sarah are fine casted. Sarah can get under your skin. There are several moments in the film that I wanted to hit or hurt her. Charlie is often apathetic. I would kick her ass sometimes or shake her to wake her up. The crying and gasp scene at the end of the film is breath taking.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAlthough Iu0026#39;m far from the subject in age and Iu0026#39;m not a woman, I could easily empathize with Respire and it hit me several times like I was 17 again.”