The queer French auteur François Ozon turns to a very English novel for the source of his latest bittersweet romance. Evidently, he read Aidan Chambers’s 1982 novel Dance on My Grave. when he was a teenager and this story of teen angst must have really resounded deeply with him that almost four decades later it inspires him to make this wonderfully sad love story.
Ozon transfers the setting of Southend On Sea to the sleepy French seaside town Le Tréport in the summer of 1985. With school out teenage Alex (Félix Lefebvre), is at a loose end with little to do. When his best friend decides to go out on a date rather than hang out with him, Alex borrows his dingy to go out for a sail on his own.
When the weather suddenly deteriorates the small boat capsizes, but like a miracle out of the mist comes a knight in shining armor to save the day, The undeniably handsome David (Benjamin Voisin) appears like a beautiful vision on the horizon to rescue Alex and his boat.
David immediately takes charge and when they reach land he insists on taking Alex home to his widowed mum (the wonderful Valeria Bruni Tedeschi). Overriding Alex’s objections she insists on undressing and bathing him as she tells Alex that “my David needs a real friend”.
What follows at break-neck speed is a passionate affair that completely engulfs the virginal Alex, although this never seems like this is David’s first time at the rodeo. Alex’s parents seem to have no idea about their son’s sexuality or his newfound love. On the other hand, David’s mother is very aware of how Alex is making her son so happy. and she encourages him to join them working in their family store
In so many ways the boys are total opposites Alex is a timid bookworm who has a morbid obsession with death, whereas David likes nothing better than riding his motorbike at breakneck speed dangerously weaving in and out of traffic
The story of their six-week summer romance is mixed up with flashes into the future which shows that Alex is in trouble with the Authorities for some yet-to-be-disclosed problem.
Meanwhile, Alex has a casual encounter one day on the beach with another teenager, Kate (Philippine Velge) an English au-pair. However when he later introduces her to David, he actually gets very jealous when the pair hit it off, and he thinks she may take his place in David’s affections.
It’s this that causes Alex to have his first major argument with David, and in the heat of the moment, both teenagers say things they will come to regret. No spoilers here, but this is not the actual event that will make their break up so utterly final.
As with most of his movies, Ozon leaves the final conclusion of the story up to us his audience, but in this case not until he has made us share the sad consequences of the end of the boy’s affair.
Beautifully shot with some very memorable performances particularly by his two young leads, and some excellent period pop music from the likes of Bananarama and The Cure.
Summer of 85 is classic Ozon and cements his position as one of the very best queer filmmakers of our generation. Yet despite being nominated on numerous occasions for a Cesar Award he has still yet to win …..note to the French Academy …..Wake Up and Smell The Roses.
