Young & Beautiful

Young & Beautiful

Theatrical release poster
Directed by François Ozon
Produced by Éric Altmayer
Nicolas Altmayer
Written by François Ozon
Starring
Music by Philippe Rombi
Cinematography Pascal Marti
Edited by Laure Gardette
Distributed by Mars Distribution
Release dates
  • 16 May 2013 (2013-05-16) (Cannes)
  • 21 August 2013 (2013-08-21) (France)
Running time
 93 minutes
Country France
Language French

Young & Beautiful (French: Jeune & Jolie) is a 2013 French four-season drama film of adolescent sexuality directed by François Ozon and produced by Eric and Nicolas Altmayer. The film stars Marine Vacth as a wantonly photogenic unfettered girl in the leading role of Isabelle, a teenage prostitute, and features supporting performances by Charlotte Rampling, Johan Leysen, Géraldine Pailhas, and Frédéric Pierrot. The film was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, and received praise from the film critics.[1][2] It was shown at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.[3]

Plot

While on a summer holiday with her family in the south of France, 17-year-old Isabelle, decides to lose her virginity to a cute German boy named Felix. The experience leaves her unsatisfied. By autumn she is working as a prostitute at high-class hotels under the name Lea. Among Isabelle's clients is a 63-year-old man named Georges (Johan Leysen), whom she likes. He dies of a heart attack while they are having sex with Isabelle on top. Isabelle tries to resuscitate him, then leaves. In Winter the police turn up and inform her mother, Sylvie, about Isabelle being a prostitute and Georges death. Sylvie flies into a rage and repeatedly slaps Isabelle before apologising and grounding her. Isabelle is forced to give a statement to the police. She says she was first approached by a man on the street to have sex for money, but found it disgusting. After seeing a report about students making money as prostitutes she set up a website, bought a second phone and went into business. As a minor she is the victim and won't be charged but her mother will keep the money. Sylvia takes Isabelle to see a therapist (Serge Hefez) to help her deal with what happened, including her guilt because she thinks she killed Georges.

After Isabelle quits prostitution she lives a normal teenage life and works as a babysitter. In Spring, she meets Alex at a party and they start dating. They have sex with Isabelle on top and she has to help him out. Afterwards she breaks up with Alex saying she doesn't love him. Isabelle reactivates her phone's sim card and checks messages for Lea from clients. Georges's widow Alice (Charlotte Rampling) found Lea's number in her husband's address book and requested an appointment at the hotel. When she arrives, Alice explains the situation and says she wants to see the room and the meet the girl Georges was with when he died. She doesn't blame Isabelle because she knew he saw other women, was ill and thinks dying making love is a beautiful death. They go to the room and Alice tells Isabelle to leave her cloths on and lie with her on the bed. Isabelle says she needed to come here too. Alice kindly caresses Isabelle's face; Isabelle falls asleep. She wakes up alone looking more at peace.

Cast

Reception

François Ozon (second from left) with Fantin Ravat, Marine Vacth, and Géraldine Pailhas at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Frédéric Pierrot can be seen behind Ravat.

Upon its premiere at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, Young & Beautiful received critical acclaim. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praised Vacth's leading role and predicted that the film would "land her major exposure on the casting radar". While drawing comparisons to Ozon's 2012 film In the House Rooney wrote, "[U]nlike that playful Hitchcockian quasi-thriller, Young & Beautiful is both more carnal and more sober, suggesting the danger and fragility inherent in the central character’s experimentation while keeping the dramatic intensity subdued."[4] Leslie Felperin of Variety noted that the film was "a nuanced, emotionally temperate study of a precocious youth" and added that "its elegant execution will win warm regard [and the] subject matter should lure audiences at art houses worldwide."[5]

Derek Malcolm of London Evening Standard wrote that Ozon was successful in "directing the slim and striking Vacth through a series of sex scenes, and also showing how the girl doesn’t really know what she is doing even when pretty experienced in the art of seduction."[6] While being appreciative of the film as a whole, Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian noted that the film was a "luxurious fantasy of a young girl's flowering: a very French and very male fantasy, like the pilot episode of the world's classiest soap opera."[7]

Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 77% based on reviews from 35 critics.[8]

Accolades

Awards
Award / Film Festival Category Recipients and nominees Result
Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or François Ozon Nominated
San Sebastián International Film Festival[9] TVE Otra Mirada Award François Ozon Won
Silver Condor[10] Best Non Spanish Film François Ozon Nominated

Music

The film tells the story of takes place over the course of a year and is divided into four segments, each separated by a song of Françoise Hardy.

References

  1. ↑ "2013 Official Selection". Cannes Film Festival. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "Screenings Guide" (PDF). Cannes Film Festival. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Toronto film festival 2013: the full line-up". The Guardian. London. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  4. ↑ Rooney, David (16 May 2013). "Young & Beautiful: Cannes Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  5. ↑ Felperin, Leslie (16 May 2013). "'Young & Beautiful' Review". Variety. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  6. ↑ Malcolm, Derek (16 May 2013). "Young & Beautiful, Cannes film festival - film review". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  7. ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (16 May 2013). "Cannes 2013: Jeune et Jolie review". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "Young & Beautiful (Jeune Et Jolie)". 25 April 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "Jeune et jolie". San Sebastián. 15 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  10. ↑ "Cóndor de Plata 2016: Todos los nominados". Escribiendo Cine. Retrieved 16 April 2016.

External links

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