“It was an experience” – Isabelle
I spent last Friday night hiding from the cold in my new second home, the Gate Picturehouse. It was too long since I’d indulged in some french cinema and so the boy and I snuggled up watching Jeune & Jolie, director Francois Ozon’s latest offering of a UK release following it’s Cannes debut. It’s a perplexing yet utterly alluring study of teenage innocence and starred the most unbelievably beautiful female lead in the form of newbie actress Marine Vacth (a star is now born ladies and gentleman).
Marine Vacth plays nymphette Isabelle, who we first meet through the binoculars of her younger brother, frolicking topless on the beach. Some critics have labelled this movie just a polite perving for men (which it kind of is) but it’s also, luckily, made of thicker substance that just that.
We follow Isabelle and her seemingly normal and well-off family through their holiday in the South of France where she meets a German who she loses her virginity to at the age of 17. Then we flick to Autumn and Isabelle is living a seemingly average life in their family Parisian apartment, studying literature at college. But things aren’t all they seem – Isabelle’s seemingly innocent life is an act as we find her currently working as a secret amateur prostitute.
The film follows her actions and their consequences but doesn’t wrap it up with a suitably simple ending – as with most French cinema it’s a film that throws up questions. It constantly observes but doesn’t ever really let you in. Throughout the film you feel you’re the brother looking through the binoculars down on this beautiful, precocious young woman and her family.
This film was enjoyable but not wholly satisfying – but I don’t think it’s supposed to be. It’s recommended if not just to watch the pure allure of Marine Vacth in this incredible debut role who holds the entire film in the palm of her hand, just like she does with every male she encounters as she is navigating her way to being a woman.
It’s on at The Gate all this week and plenty other cinemas around the UK if you fancy indulging in some foreign cinema this weekend – enjoy! LMNH x
Oo I really want to watch this movie!
She looks so beautiful, it just seems so captivating.
{Teffy’s Perks} X