Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Summer of 85 is a gay drama about first love and the pain that follows.
The film opens with a teenage boy, Alex (Félix Lefebvre), being led down a hallway by a police officer. Through a voiceover, he tells us that the story is about a corpse he knew when it was alive. At first the movie looks and feels a bit grim, then it cuts to a beach scene with bright colors and fun music. It’s earlier in the summer and everybody is having a good time.
Alex wants to sail with a friend, Chris (Antoine Simoni), who can’t go because he has a date with a girl. Instead, Chris tells Alex to take his boat out without him. Alex does and runs into a storm. The boat capsizes and Alex is frantic to get back to shore. He calls out and is heard by David (Benjamin Voisin), who is also out sailing, and saves him.
Since David lives close, he takes Alex home and lets him borrow some clothes. The two begin talking, and exchange furtive glances. David has Alex return that evening to pick up his dry clothes, and then they go out to the movies. It doesn’t take long for their friendship to become sexual, and for them to fall in love.
The more Alex and David see each other, the closer they become. And despite David openly having sex with other men, their relationship is going well. It isn’t until David makes sexual advances toward Alex’s female friend, Kate (Philippine Velge), that things get complicated.
I’m not going to get into anything more, but that’s the basic plot.
Some Thoughts:
Summer of 85 works well because it takes place in 1985, when the LGBT community wasn’t accepted, and teenagers were more naïve than they are today. The lack of technology allows the story to play out in a more natural way, with parents and friends unable to connect via text and social media.
This is a film that needs good acting and visuals to work, and it has both. Director François Ozon sets the time using less distracting fashion choices over loud colors, which is more subtle. It still feels like the 1980s, it just doesn’t have the over-the-top visuals filmmakers normally use.
Levebvre and Voisin play their characters with skill, infusing every scene they’re in with emotion. The connection between Alex and David is believable, and the sexual tension is palpable. While it’s easy to feel for Alex, David’s motives for hurting Alex by having sex with Kate aren’t clear.
Kate is a great addition to the story. She’s used sparingly, coming up when necessary. Her friendship with Alex is sweet, especially when she learns that Alex and David were more than just friends. There are several moments between them that ring true.
While the end works, it would be better if Ozon had fleshed out David’s motivation for sleeping with Kate a bit more. And since David’s father passed away and left him to take care of his mother and the family business, David’s reason for his actions could have been explained in one scene. It doesn’t ruin the movie, but it makes the scene where David confronts him slightly confusing.
The Final Verdict:
Summer of 85 is an excellent film by a director who knows how to tell a compelling story. The entire cast is perfect, and the script is well thought out. The ending would have more impact if we understood David a bit more, but that does not ruin the movie. Summer of 85 is well worth your time.
