1958 was fairly the yr for French novelist Françoise Sagan, who had not one however two movie variations of her works given the Hollywood remedy: A Sure Smile and Bonjour Tristesse. The latter was directed by Otto Preminger to combined critiques regardless of a starry forged together with David Niven, Deborah Kerr and newcomer Jean Seberg who had made her debut in Preminger’s Saint Joan the yr earlier than. She was enthralling, however the Preminger take of Sagan’s coming-of-age story set on the French Riviera is basically forgotten in the present day. Each studio movies had the texture of a lavish cleaning soap so well-liked for these widescreen romantic dramas of the time. Now we’ve got a brand new take.
Although Bonjour Tristesse has additionally since been made a few occasions for French TV, that is the primary main worldwide movie model since Preminger’s, and it’s a gorgeous-looking, fairly lilting story of an 18-year-old woman’s awakening that truly precipitated a scandal when Sagan, then 18 herself, printed her guide. Actually she knew the territory and the feelings to ship a coming-of-age story that caught on and made her a sensation. In in the present day’s world this will likely all appear slight, however younger audiences would possibly simply discover one thing to narrate with right here as our fundamental character, Cecile (Lily McInerny), spends the final days of a carefree French summer time together with her father Raymond (Claes Bang) and his lover Elsa (Nailia Harzoune) who isn’t that a lot older than Cecile — maybe the explanation she will get alongside together with her so nicely regardless of lacking her late mom.
Cecile spends her days with boyfriend Cyril (Aliocha Schneider) hitting the picaresque seashore, kissing if not going a lot additional, nonetheless a woman however unquestionably on the cusp of womanhood. This supreme life doesn’t final for lengthy when her father broadcasts that New York designer Anne (Chloe Sevigny), an previous buddy of his and her mom is coming to stick with them. The go to begins out fantastic as Anne and Raymond relive previous occasions, but it surely will get fairly chilly regardless of the sun-baked environment when Raymond begins falling romantically for Anne, one thing that ends the connection with Elsa and units Cecile off in methods that may be harmful, together with an impulsive unannounced go to to Cyril’s bed room one evening, waking him up for an impulsive sexual encounter. She additionally returns to Elsa, trying to take sides when Anne tries to win her approval to no avail. Occasions careen uncontrolled.
This in debuting Montreal-based director and screenwriter Durga Chew Bose‘s fingers feels extra true to Sagan’s novel and turns into a extra complicated story of the character of feminine relationships, the mysteries inside and their winding paths. The lads listed here are extra objects than absolutely fleshed-out characters as Cecile, Anne and Elsa discover their lives intertwining in methods none of them might need predicted through the finish of an idyllic summer time. Maybe it took a girl to show these elements of Sagan’s nonetheless beloved novel, and Bose succeeds in getting straight to the aching coronary heart of Cecile, as does McInerny who would possibly remind you of a younger Audrey Hepburn. She does simply fantastic in exhibiting off the contradictions of a younger girl torn in several instructions. Sevigny is a robust presence right here, however I didn’t fairly really feel the attraction between her and Raymond, the part so essential to driving the storyline, however we’ve got to go together with it. Harzoune’s Elsa is so charming you simply can’t perceive why Raymond would all of a sudden eliminate her besides the age angle which is paradoxically clearly Anne’s benefit.
Maximilian PIttner’s gorgeous sunlit cinematography makes Bonjour Tristesse‘s location (it was shot in Cassis) a trip vacation spot, particularly if it’s also possible to hire that villa they’re at. Lesley Barber’s lyrical rating additionally helps the temper.
Producers are Lindsay Tapscott and Katie Hen Nolan. It’s searching for distribution.
Title: Bonjour Tristesse
Pageant: Toronto (Discovery)
Director-screenwriter: Durga Chew Bose
Forged: Chloe Sevigny, Claes Bang, Lily McInerny, Nailia Harzoune, Aliocha Schneider, Nathalie Richard
Gross sales brokers: UTA (home); Movie Constellation (worldwide)
Working time: 1 hr 50 minutes
