Summer of 85
By Kat Halstead,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
French teen drama has strong language, suicide references.
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Summer of 85
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What's the Story?
In SUMMER OF 85, teenager Alexis (Félix Lefebvre) has just moved to a French seaside town, where he meets the slightly older, infinitely more worldly David (Benjamin Voisin). The two strike up a fast friendship, which develops into a romance as they spend the sun-drenched weeks in a bubble of hedonistic freedom. But tragedy lurks around every corner, as Alexis struggles to recount through his writing exactly what happened that fateful summer.
Is It Any Good?
Based on the British YA novel Dance on My Grave by Aidan Chambers, director François Ozon transports this coming-of age drama to a French seaside town in the 1980s. Summer of 85 has a strong sense of nostalgia with songs from the likes of The Cure and Rod Stewart only adding to the feeling of a time gone by. Even without the framing device, which quickly establishes David's death and some connection to Alexis, it is never really in question that the romance will end in tears. The angelic innocent falling for the bad boy is nothing new.
But the chemistry between Lefebvre and Voisin is natural and intense in equal measure, as the pair hurtle toward the inevitable end with rose-tinted sunglasses and a devil-may-care smile. Sunny, dreamy location shots and intimate performances combine with flashes of humor and a hovering tension in what is a beautifully told, if slightly unoriginal, queer romance that should appeal as much to teens as older generations.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Summer of 85 depicts gay characters. How did it compare to other depictions you've seen in movies?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How was sex portrayed in the movie? Was it loving and respectful? What did it mean for the characters involved? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Discuss how death is explored in the film. What role does it play in the story?
How does the movie create tension? Have you seen this kind of framing device used in other movies?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 18, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: August 17, 2021
- Cast: Félix Lefebvre , Benjamin Voisin , Valeria Bruni Tedeschi
- Director: Francois Ozon
- Inclusion Information: Gay directors
- Studio: Music Box Films
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Book Characters
- Run time: 101 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 22, 2023
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