Something in the Air (2012)

In the months after the heady weeks of May '68, a group of young Europeans search for a way to continue the revolution believed to be just beginning.

Director:

Olivier Assayas

Writer:

Olivier Assayas (screenplay)

Stars:

Clément Métayer, André Marcon, Lola Créton

5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Clément Métayer	...	Gilles
Lola Créton	...	Christine
Felix Armand	...	Alain
Carole Combes	...	Laure
Bobbi Salvör Menuez	...	Leslie (as India Salvor Menuez)
Hugo Conzelmann	...	Jean-Pierre
Martin Loizillon	...	Rackam le Rouge
André Marcon	...	Le père de Gilles
Johnny Flynn
Dolores Chaplin	...	Actrice Londres
Laurent Ramacciotti	...	Vigile / Coach
Mathias Renou	...	Vincent
Léa Rougeron	...	Maria
Philippe Paimblanc	...	Proviseur
Alain Gluckstein	...	Professeur de français

Storyline

In the months after the heady weeks of May '68, a group of young Europeans search for a way to continue the revolution believed to be just beginning.

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Plot Keywords:

riot | posing nude | nude drawing | chinese cultural revolution | paris france | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Connections

Features Joe Hill (1971)

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Soundtracks

Decadence
Written by Kevin Ayers
Performed by Kevin Ayers

User Reviews

Liked it much better on a second viewing

Almost 20 years later, Assays returns to his own adolescence, which he examined expertly in 1994's "Cold Water". As if to make it clear that he is coming full circle the main character (clearly based on Assayas himself), and one of the key supporting characters bear the same screen names as their counterparts in "Cold Water".

This grew on me considerably on 2nd viewing. Because I knew not to expect a straight- forward plot, but something much more episodic and tonal, I stopped focusing on the story, and took in all the details, and the mood. I found the film much funnier the second time, catching Assayas' gentle mocking of the over seriousness of these petite-bourgeois youth, at the same time that he captures the sad beauty in adolescence's naiveté and out sized passions.

"Something in the Air" focuses on politics, art and sex, taking place 3 years after the May 1968 riots, as the high school kids of that moment try to live in the spirit of revolution that was already starting to fade into factionalism (some of the film's best humor documents the absurdly intense rivalries between groups who mostly share common goals, and the insane parsing of every word and idea to examine if it was the 'right' thing to foment revolution).

There are some truly great sequences. An early scene of the kids battling the cops is exciting, raw and immersive. And there's a sequence at a party that's pretty breathtaking. Throughout, Assayas uses perfect music from the period, without using the same 6 songs every film about the late 60s/early 70s seem to fall back on. If the film isn't quite a masterpiece it is touching, funny and worthwhile work from one of the most interesting voices making films right now, one who can go from the near operatic "Carlos" to the quiet and intimate "Summer Hours", bringing each their own unique style. Assays is a true auteur, but he hasn't let that trap him into a single style or tone.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site (USA)

Country:

France

Language:

French English Italian

Release Date:

14 November 2012 (France)

Also Known As:

Something in the Air

Filming Locations:

Brunoy, Essonne, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,288, 5 May 2013

Gross USA:

$85,154

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,305,473

Company Credits

Production Co:

MK2 Productions, France 3 Cinéma, Vortex Sutra

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1