Director: Francois Ozon
Starring: Marine Vacth, Geraldine Pailhas, Frederic Pierrot, Fantin Ravat, Johan Leysen, Charlotte Rampling, Nathalie Richard, Djedje Apali, Lucas Prisor
Running Time: 90 Minutes
Certificate: 18
Extras: Cast & Crew Interviews
JEUNE & JOLIE is a perplexing and difficult film due to the fact it is mostly rhyme without reason. Usually I would highlight this as a negative, but the way in which Ozon structures the narrative makes it all the more thrilling that we’re not allowed inside the protagonists head. Newcomer Marine Vacth plays Isabelle, a 17 year old girl who, recently having discovered sex, decides to become an escort in Paris. She meets with her clients, takes the money, and continues on in life. Ozon represents this phase with naive voyeurism. We’re allowed to see the events, but not clued in as to why.
This would have dragged many films under, but Isabelle being such the enigma is perhaps the strongest metaphor for sexual awakening. It’s sometimes beautiful, sometimes exciting, sometimes gross, and sometimes pointless. Isabelle feels certain attachments to some of her clients, but due to her pleasant home life and good relationship with mother, brother, and step father, her rebelliousness shows that part of being a teenager is the confusion and inexplicable behaviour at times.
Split into four segments, each representing the four seasons, we see Isabelle navigate the world of sex, at first as an inexperienced virgin on the beach to becoming a suited and business like escort in the city. Later the film descends into possible consequences for such actions, but never applies guilt to the characters. It poses the question as to whether or not 17 is an adult or not. Isabelle is never represented as a victim of any circumstance, and is usually the one in complete control; at times Vacth even demonstrates a more predatory nature.
Hardly a cautionary tale, JEUNE & JOLIE merely details its story without forcing perspectives down the audience’s throat. The stylish visual techniques, in which even mundane hotel rooms sprout to life, helps to create a world that is uncomfortably comforting. Expertly subtle dialogue carries the ambiguous themes well, and the sex scenes are filmed with raw passion without ever letting you forget the nature of what’s going on. Certainly a film that makes you think rather than spoon feeds.
[usr=4] JEUNE & JOLIE is released on DVD and Blu-ray from 24th March via Lionsgate.
