Summer of 85 * * * * ½

The French Film Festival is on at the moment. 

I really like the work of Francois Ozon, even when he changes tact and surprises us with an unexpected subject such as By The Grace of God.

This film is more in the style we are used to from him. A beautiful, erotic mystery featuring two mutually attracted, immensely intelligent handsome young men.  One of whom has a morbid fascination with death. 

Death is better than helmets

Summer of 85 has been compared with Call Me By Your Name, and I can understand why, but I think it stands in its own right.  It's certainly not a copy or even influenced by it.  But like Call Me.. it features a young man who fall hopelessly in love with a slightly older young man.

They meet when the younger finds himself in distress on the water in a borrowed yacht.  He is rescued by the older boy.  Afterward they get to know each other and a loving relationship commences, complete with insane jealousy from the younger when he finds his lover has a different  idea of their relationship.

After a tragedy the young man is left to his own devices. The film is adapted from the novel "Dance On My Grave"  -  A suggestion that begins to take real meaning in the story.