Summer of 85
dir. François Ozon · 2020
Being alive is about the intense search for identity and connection, often intertwined with the awareness of mortality.
Alexis spends a sun-soaked summer in Normandy, where the thrill of youth collides with the weight of existential thoughts. As he navigates the complexities of friendship and burgeoning romance, the film captures the bittersweet essence of fleeting moments and the haunting specter of mortality. Watching it feels like a gentle wave of nostalgia, inviting reflection on the intensity of first love and the inevitable passage of time.
What do you dream of when you're 16-years-old and in a seaside resort in Normandy in the 1980s? A best friend? A lifelong teen pact? Scooting off on adventures on a boat or a motorbike? Living life at breakneck speed? No. You dream of death. Because you can't get a bigger kick than dying. And that's why you save it till the very end. The summer holidays are just beginning, and this story recounts how Alexis grew into himself.
Talking points
- the impact of first love on identity
- the interplay of youth and mortality
- nostalgia for lost summers
- the significance of place in shaping memories
