The opening shot is of Isabelle in a bikini on a beach,
and it is from a distance through binoculars that we see her. Our first vision
of her is through the eyes of a voyeur, which are every filmgoer’s eyes, aren’t
they? As she lies, topless on the beach, a hand’s shadow touches her skin, her
breasts, her face. It turns out to be her younger brother, Victor, and so a bit
of harmless fun. But by then we’ve already become accustomed to admiring her
physical form, and perhaps simultaneously worrying about others doing so. It’s
an interesting way to introduce the lead character to the audience,
particularly in relation to what is to come. One might simultaneously desire
her and desire to protect her.
It is summer, and Isabelle embodies that youthful
attitude that we’ll always associate with the season. She is excited,
uncertain, nervous, trying to act cooler than she is, uncertain even of her own
beauty when talking to Felix, a boy she is interested in, on the beach. Then as
she gets ready for a date with Felix, she asks Victor how she looks. “You
look like a whore,” he tells her. “Really?” she asks, interested but
not offended. And that night, on the eve of turning seventeen, she loses her
virginity. It’s an interesting scene, where she becomes detached from her own
first sexual experience. And is it that sense of detachment that leads her to
do what she does?
Her family is then packing up, as it’s the end of summer.
As they drive home, their car passes Felix on his bicycle. Isabelle says
nothing, and it seems that experience is already in the past for her.
The film is divided into sections by season, and as we go
into autumn, we see the blues of the metal and glass of the city, a contrast to
the warmer tones of the beach, as Isabelle (calling herself Lea) goes to see a
client. The man is much older than she’d been expecting, and admits to lying
about his age. She too lies about her age, telling him she’s twenty. He asks if
she’s a student. She says yes, and he says, as if understanding, that times are
difficult. But we see from her expression, and we know from earlier scenes,
that that is not her reason for doing this. Of course, this causes us to wonder
just what her reasons are.
There’s an interesting moment when she sees that client
while at the theater with her parents, and goes from at first sliding down in
her seat to hide from him to then deliberately making eye contact with him in
the lobby during intermission. Is it a test of her powers? It works. He sends
her a message requesting another meeting. And you get the sense that she feels
some pride in that, in her ability, in her charms.
This film is actually quite beautiful, especially
considering the subject matter. There is a montage where Isabelle sees several
clients, and it’s done with almost a warmth that is surprising. Also, I
absolutely love the music in this movie.
Partway through it becomes more about how her mother
deals with Isabelle, and how this experience affects Isabelle’s relationships
with other people. It’s completely engrossing and fascinating, and features
excellent performances all around, including that by Fantin Ravat as Isabelle’s
younger brother. And I especially appreciate the appearance of Charlotte
Rampling late in the film. There is something enchanting about that woman, and
her presence always adds to a film.
Young & Beautiful was written and directed by
Francois Ozon, who also directed 8 Women and Swimming Pool. It
was released on DVD on August 26, 2014. The DVD contains the film’s trailer.
The film is presented in French, with English subtitles.
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