Summer of 85

Normandy, 1985. Alexis and David begin an unlikely friendship after an incident at sea. The story telling is interesting, François Ozon style, the typical plot to appeal for feelings and emotions, but that sometimes (as is the case in this film) falls too much into the melodramatic. There's nothing mind blowing, or double-sided characters, it is a simple summer love story, where there's a side of innocence and illusion about the first love to contrast with a rebellious and non-conformist side, of fleeting relationships. The aesthetics and sonority perfectly captures the 80's vibe, in a fantastic 16mm film. Those who liked 'Call Me by Your Name' will certainly like 'Été 85', given the similarities and inspirations that the director sought after Luca Guadagnino's great success. The protagonists have talent, and above all, chemistry, essential for a film of this kind to work. It's a nice way to end the (strange) summer of 2020.

In the title summer, on a beach town, two teenage boys meet while sailing and fall in love. The story is told mostly by way of an essay that recounts the events of the summer, which allows for selective disclosures (or not). Right at the start of the film, we know something bad has happened, but it takes most of the movie to find out what and why.

The young actors are natural, and the cinematography is gorgeous. Being set in 1985, I suppose it can't end in "getting married and living happily ever after", but there is maturity and hope.

Such a pity this movie is released during corona. Été 85 deserves worldwide recognition and rewards like Call Me By Your Name. It is said director Francois Ozon was inspired by this movie to make his own version, set in 1985, when he turned 18 in France.

This movie is typically Ozon, he's a master in story telling, stirs up our emotions, appeals to our hormones. The cast is wonderful. The male lead (Alex) is a brooding 16 year old student, who goes down the rabbit hole in his passion for his flamboyant lover (David) an 18 year old unstable character who lost his father a year ago.

Almost from the start we know their love is doomed, but the story unfolds like a sweet gay summer romance. We watch the boys sailing, dancing, driving to the sea, watching the sunset, exchanging sloppy kisses, making out at every opportunity. All scenes are filmed in 16 mm tinted in light colors to remind us of the eighties.

The boys fling lasts only 6 weeks, but makes a life long impression on Alex with life lessons about seduction, passion, jealousy and death. Later on he asks himself questions about real love, and the ideal of love, two different things, like we all know, but difficult to discern when you're intensely in love for the very first time.

All in all I loved this sexy, nostalgic Gloom & Doom boys love that seems fitting for the eighties. Go watch it.

The boys meet while separately out boating and sixteen year old Alexis falls in love immediately with eighteen year old David. We know from the start that the relationship is doomed but we obviously don't know how and why. Hints and fragments emerge from the text - and it is a text. Alex is writing the events of the six week romance as a way of explaining his criminal actions to a social worker.

The running length of the film whirls past just as the summer romance between the lads does. During the affair, things are revealed that start to show that all is not well - David goes back to the drunk guy they rescued, he hints at a deeper relationship with the literature teacher, mum is clearly worried about him and asks his younger friend to keep an eye on him, it turns out the boat was not dealt with.

Alex is blind to it all and is blissfully happy in his first proper love affair. They do things young besotted teenagers do - drink, go to fairgrounds, have punch ups with rival guys, drive dangerously on the Suzuki. They exchange kisses and embraces and make love while David's mum is doped up on sleeping pills.

It all comes crashing down and when it does, the events take a gruesome and tragic turn of events. Alex is in trouble. He had made David a promise he thought he would not have to keep either at all or for many years but is now obliged to carry it out. On the way to this, he's helped by his English acquaintance who offers the apercu that he was in love with an idea and not the person. It's the definition of puppy love.

Frantic typing feverishly results in clarity both for David and the court and his story ends as far as the film is concerned but carries on beyond its ending with another boat ride; our imaginations can envisage the course of his life now that he's learnt a lesson and is a bit wiser to the ways of the world.

As always, Ozon's storytelling is masterful as is the cinematography. The choice of music was perfect. "In between days" by The Cure framed the film and I can't imagine anything more apt especially once the film was complete.

The two leads played their parts fantastically. The supporting cast were not fleshed out but didn't need to be. Their characters were recognisable cliches that could be found in a French provincial town nearly forty years ago and simply drove the plot along.

I do recommend this film.

I've seen a lot of 'gay' movies and a lot of coming of age movies and a lot of movies that combine both, but it is rare to see this in such great quality. The story hasn't many surprising twists, but the movie doesn't need those. It is a story of all times, metoculously set in one specific time and told in a very skillfull and loving fashion.

The casting, acting, art-direction, all are superb and enticing. The young actors seem to have great carriers ahead.