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Movies: Bonjour Tristesse (2024) by Durga Chew-Bose: A Sun-Drenched Farewell to Innocence

  • Writer: dailyentertainment95
    dailyentertainment95
  • Aug 26
  • 6 min read

Trend: The "Summer of Discontent" This trend in filmmaking centers on coming-of-age stories set during a single, transformative summer. These films use the intense heat and languid pace of the season to heighten a protagonist's emotional and psychological journey. The idyllic setting often acts as a stark contrast to the internal conflicts of the characters, dealing with themes of sexual awakening, identity, and the painful transition from adolescence to adulthood.

  • Lush, Sensory Cinematography: The visual style emphasizes the heat, colors, and textures of summer, creating a dreamlike or even oppressive atmosphere.

  • Complex Female Relationships: The narratives often focus on the intricate and sometimes volatile dynamics between young women, exploring jealousy, admiration, and desire.

  • Ambiguous Morality: The protagonists are often morally complex, and their actions are driven by a mix of genuine feeling and youthful selfishness.

About: The Riviera Unraveling Durga Chew-Bose's feature directorial debut is a meticulous and atmospheric adaptation of a beloved literary work. It is not a straightforward remake of the 1958 Otto Preminger film but a new, distinct vision that foregrounds mood, character nuance, and a quiet, observational style. The film captures the feeling of a life-changing summer and the subtle ways in which an idyllic existence can be irrevocably shattered.

Short Summary: An Affair of the Heart and Mind Eighteen-year-old Cécile is enjoying a blissful summer with her carefree, playboy father, Raymond, and his latest girlfriend, Elsa, in their stunning French villa. Their days are a haze of sun, sea, and casual romance. However, this carefree life is disrupted by the arrival of Anne, a sophisticated and disciplined family friend who becomes engaged to Raymond. Anne’s presence and her attempts to impose order on their chaotic lifestyle provoke Cécile's jealousy and lead her to set a destructive plan in motion to drive Anne away.

Detailed Summary: A Summer's Subtle Decay

  • The film opens with a young Cécile living a life of leisure, companionship, and emotional freedom with her father and his girlfriend. Their world is one of intellectual and romantic dalliances, with no real responsibilities.

  • The arrival of Anne, a figure from her late mother’s past, introduces a sense of adult authority and order. She is a foil to Cécile’s youthful hedonism, and her presence is felt as a threat to the comfortable equilibrium of their summer.

  • Cécile, feeling her father’s affection and attention shift towards Anne, begins to resent the new woman in their lives. The film masterfully depicts the subtle power struggles and emotional manipulations that play out between the two women.

  • Driven by a mix of jealousy and a fear of losing her father, Cécile orchestrates a plan to sabotage Anne's relationship with Raymond. She enlists her boyfriend, Cyril, and her father’s girlfriend, Elsa, in a scheme that is meant to simply drive Anne away.

  • The consequences of Cécile’s actions are far more devastating than she anticipates. Her seemingly innocent plot leads to a tragic and permanent end to the summer, and her innocence, and she is left to grapple with the sorrow and regret of her actions.

Director's Vision: The Quiet, Observational Gaze Durga Chew-Bose, a respected writer and essayist, brings her singular voice to the screen.

  • Focus on Mood and Atmosphere: The director prioritizes creating a specific mood and atmosphere over a fast-paced plot. The film is full of long, quiet shots and scenes that linger on textures, light, and the expressions on her characters' faces.

  • Sensory Details: Chew-Bose uses her camera to "elegantly glance off bodies, fabrics and seawater," as noted by The New York Times, using details like the different ways characters eat an apple to individualize them. This is a very writerly approach to filmmaking, where the small details tell a larger story.

  • Subverting the Source Material: While the film is a faithful adaptation of the novel’s plot, Chew-Bose’s interpretation delves deeper into the complex relationships between the women, sometimes presenting the men as secondary figures in the drama.

Themes: Youthful Innocence, Female Jealousy, and the Cost of Selfishness

  • The Death of Innocence: The title itself, which translates to "Hello Sadness," is a direct reflection of the film's central theme. Cécile's journey is one from a state of blissful ignorance to a painful awareness of the consequences of her actions.

  • The Complexity of Female Relationships: The dynamic between Cécile and Anne is the heart of the film. Their relationship is a mix of mutual fascination, admiration, and a deep-seated jealousy that ultimately turns destructive. The film suggests that women's relationships with one another are often defined by both a shared understanding and a quiet rivalry.

  • The Fragility of Happiness: Bonjour Tristesse argues that the idyllic state of a happy summer is inherently fragile and can be destroyed by a single selfish act. It is a cautionary tale about the transient nature of joy and the permanence of regret.

Key Success Factors: A Beautiful and Nuanced Adaptation

  • Stunning Cinematography: The film is visually exquisite. The use of natural light and the vibrant colors of the French Riviera make it a feast for the eyes and create a strong sense of place and mood.

  • Strong Performances: The cast, particularly Lily McInerny and Chloë Sevigny, delivers nuanced and compelling performances that bring the complex emotional dynamics of the story to life.

  • Faithful Yet Fresh: Durga Chew-Bose’s ability to remain true to the spirit of Sagan’s novel while giving it a modern sensibility is a key factor in the film’s success. It stands on its own as a work of art, separate from both the book and the previous film adaptation.

Awards and Nominations: A Festival Favorite The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and was also featured at AFI Fest and the Vancouver International Film Festival. It has been recognized for its artistic achievements, including winning the Mainichi Film Award for Best Art Direction for Yūji Hayashida.

Critics Reception: A Poetic and Meticulous Debut

  • Rotten Tomatoes: The film holds an approval rating of 66% based on 50 reviews, indicating a generally positive reception. The critical consensus praises the film's style and cinematography but notes that some found its leisurely pace and "flat" emotional trajectory to be a hindrance.

  • Metacritic: With a score of 65 out of 100, the film received "generally favorable" reviews, with critics appreciating its visual beauty and mood.

  • The New York Times: A.O. Scott's review, which made the film a "Critic's Choice," called it "a work of image and mood," praising its ability to "capture the mythopoetic wonder of an adolescent summer."

  • Overall Summary: Critics widely praised Bonjour Tristesse as a visually stunning and thoughtfully crafted film, with many commending Durga Chew-Bose's confident directorial debut. The main point of contention was the film's deliberate, languid pace, which some critics found to be a weakness, while others saw it as an essential part of the film's style and mood.

Reviews: Beauty and Emotional Distance

  • The Hollywood Reporter: Caryn James's review noted that the film is "always glorious to look at," but found its "emotional trajectory is curiously flat," despite the strong performances.

  • Autostraddle: A review on this site called the film a "phenomenal new adaptation" and noted that it reveals a "deeper truth" about the central relationship being between Cécile and Anne, rather than Cécile and her father. The reviewer praised the film's ability to communicate complex themes through its style and imagery.

  • Overall Summary: The reviews for Bonjour Tristesse reflect a consistent appreciation for its visual beauty and artistic direction. While a few reviewers felt a sense of emotional detachment, the majority saw this as a deliberate choice that made the film a unique and compelling exploration of its themes.

Why to watch this movie: A Meditative Cinematic Experience

  • A Visually Breathtaking Film: If you appreciate stunning cinematography and meticulous attention to detail, this film is a must-see. It's a true feast for the eyes.

  • A Unique Take on a Classic: For those who have read the book or seen the 1958 film, this new adaptation offers a fresh and insightful perspective on the story, focusing on different nuances and themes.

  • A Powerful Coming-of-Age Story: The film is a subtle but powerful exploration of the emotional complexities of adolescence and the painful lessons learned on the path to adulthood.

Movie Trend: The Lyrical Literary Adaptation Bonjour Tristesse is part of a trend of lyrical literary adaptations that prioritize mood, character study, and visual artistry over a rigid adherence to plot. Films in this genre, like Luca Guadagnino's I Am Love, use a strong sense of place and atmosphere to tell a story that feels both timeless and personal.

Social Trend: The Evolving Female Gaze The film is an example of the "evolving female gaze" trend in cinema, where female directors are re-examining classic stories and tropes through a new lens. By focusing on the complex relationship between Cécile and Anne and treating the male characters as secondary, the film offers a new perspective on a story that was originally seen as a romance or a family drama, highlighting the intricate dynamics of female relationships in a way that feels fresh and modern.

Final Verdict: A Beautiful, Haunting Debut Durga Chew-Bose’s Bonjour Tristesse is an impressive and confident directorial debut. It is a film that demands patience and attention but rewards the viewer with a rich, sensory experience and a powerful, haunting story of a summer that changed everything. While its deliberate pace may not be for everyone, its undeniable beauty and emotional depth make it a worthwhile and memorable film.


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