try again, jmovies

what?

the english title is not "jeune & jolie"

not enough penis, you won't enjoy it

A type of restrained, sad 21st-century version of Luis Buñuel's Belle de jour. The film, directed by the rater prolific François Ozon (Swimming Pool), is divided into four seasonal chapters. In the summer, 17-year-old heroine Isabelle loses her virginity while at the seaside with her family. In the fall, she has begun a double life as a prostitute. She studies in the morning, encounters (often much older) johns at hotels in the afternoon, and returns to her quiet domestic existence at night. In the winter, her duplicity is revealed, and she is still contending with the numerous consequences come springtime. The film neither glamorizes nor overtly criticizes Isabelle's actions nor is it particularly interested in diving into her fantasies and worldview. It stays at a relative distance, inviting fresh-faced and promising star Marine Vacth to flash hints of confusion, desire, and rage beneath Isabelle's default icy detachment. (The first sex scene is presented as out-of-body experience, with a ghostly image of Isabelle observing as her corporal self lies beneath a groaning, thrusting German lad.) The film then is not extremely poignant, but it is riveting in its own crisp and subdued way. It is hard to turn away from the characters and their evolving dynamics. For instance, Isabelle's mother, after learning her daughter's secret, bemoans and marvels at the fact she is now a tad disgusted by her own child. There are other nice touches, too, including well-placed songs by pop chanteuse Françoise Hardy throughout and, late in the film, a memorable cameo by Charlotte Rampling.

B+

C+

Marine Vacth is terrific and the restrained direction is very good, but it left me completely cold. I know, showing us a very detached, distant perspective was exactly what the film wanted, but that simply didn't work for me. I could admire parts of it, but I never really got into the film or into its character. I didn't care.

A fascinating film. Marine Vacth is great and very beautiful. The cinematography was really good as well. I personally didn't want it to end.

8/10 (A-)