........make for a happy future."
This summer's day tale introduces us to the lives of both an older man and a late-teenage youth. The first is someone of substance, occupying a position of civic importance......but a someone who is soon to undergo a life trial involving an unexpected death. The second, and most important of these two characters, is our young lead (Sebastien or Seb), a beautiful boy who we will follow through a time of unrequited love and during the emotional upheaval resulting from his loss of a loved one. (( Most important to Sebastien's future, we will also come to know Francis, son of the town mayor. Throughout the entire story, we watch as he comes to show more and more interest in our young lead. The kind of interest displayed by Francis becomes quite clear to us---and to Seb---as events progress. Possibly, in this young man lies Sebastien's salvation )).
In addition to those characters already mentioned, we will come to know a Mother who we see suffer through the unexpected loss of a son (Mickael), and importantly, we will observe a developing relationship between she and her deceased son's best friend, Sebastien. We will also discover that this mother and even Mickael's older sister (Noemie) are coming to represent, for Sebastien, stand-ins for the violently lost Mickael (that dear friend who had been, unknowingly to him, becoming the love of Seb's life).
It is in the character of this mother that we see begin to unfold a most understanding and perceptive person. Even though never having met Seb while her son was still living, when she later does so, she quickly comes to sense the great depth of Seb's emotional loss. We watch this occur when, out on a walk together, "S" moves behind and embraces her, desperately hoping for another chance of closeness with a now departed Mickael. She realizes immediately what she must do and kindly tells Sebastien he should leave for the time being. Similarly, we're given an end of film camera shot involving Seb's wedding party dance with new bride, Noemie. It is a scene so achingly tender we're left almost breathless, as we watch and become aware this young man is sensing it is, indeed, his last opportunity to hold lost love, Mickael. Then sweetly, Noemie, being aware of his deep feelings of loss, lets the moment play out. It is at this point, one to which the director has certainly guided us, that we realize Sebastien is consciously choosing to move on with his life.
So, in the end, we will have watched the building of "two" new leases on life:
PS--Other films you may find interesting: "Just a Question of Love" / "Shelter" / "Brokeback Mountain" / "Boy Culture" / "All Over the Guy" / "Second Skin" / "The Man I Love" / "The Man of My Life" / "Oh Happy Day" / "Fashion Victims"
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This summer's day tale introduces us to the lives of both an older man and a late-teenage youth. The first is someone of substance, occupying a position of civic importance......but a someone who is soon to undergo a life trial involving an unexpected death. The second, and most important of these two characters, is our young lead (Sebastien or Seb), a beautiful boy who we will follow through a time of unrequited love and during the emotional upheaval resulting from his loss of a loved one. (( Most important to Sebastien's future, we will also come to know Francis, son of the town mayor. Throughout the entire story, we watch as he comes to show more and more interest in our young lead. The kind of interest displayed by Francis becomes quite clear to us---and to Seb---as events progress. Possibly, in this young man lies Sebastien's salvation )).
In addition to those characters already mentioned, we will come to know a Mother who we see suffer through the unexpected loss of a son (Mickael), and importantly, we will observe a developing relationship between she and her deceased son's best friend, Sebastien. We will also discover that this mother and even Mickael's older sister (Noemie) are coming to represent, for Sebastien, stand-ins for the violently lost Mickael (that dear friend who had been, unknowingly to him, becoming the love of Seb's life).
It is in the character of this mother that we see begin to unfold a most understanding and perceptive person. Even though never having met Seb while her son was still living, when she later does so, she quickly comes to sense the great depth of Seb's emotional loss. We watch this occur when, out on a walk together, "S" moves behind and embraces her, desperately hoping for another chance of closeness with a now departed Mickael. She realizes immediately what she must do and kindly tells Sebastien he should leave for the time being. Similarly, we're given an end of film camera shot involving Seb's wedding party dance with new bride, Noemie. It is a scene so achingly tender we're left almost breathless, as we watch and become aware this young man is sensing it is, indeed, his last opportunity to hold lost love, Mickael. Then sweetly, Noemie, being aware of his deep feelings of loss, lets the moment play out. It is at this point, one to which the director has certainly guided us, that we realize Sebastien is consciously choosing to move on with his life.
So, in the end, we will have watched the building of "two" new leases on life:
- That of an older man (the town Mayor, who has survived both his own near death and an investigation into possible wrongdoing involving death of another) and......
- (Most importantly in this film) that of a young man who discovers himself through the choice of not committing a crime and, near film's end, by "opening a door" (we see this in the form of a simple telephone call, made to reconnect with someone crucial to his future life and happiness).
PS--Other films you may find interesting: "Just a Question of Love" / "Shelter" / "Brokeback Mountain" / "Boy Culture" / "All Over the Guy" / "Second Skin" / "The Man I Love" / "The Man of My Life" / "Oh Happy Day" / "Fashion Victims"
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