Summer of 85
It really shouldn’t surprise people that when François Ozon does a coming-of-age movie, it’s tinged with dark humor and murder. I’ve only seen two other Ozon movies (“Swimming Pool” and “By the Grace of God”), and he does not shy away from provocative stories. What makes “Summer of 85” so disarming from him, however, is the warmth of the story he’s telling. This actually isn’t a provocative or controversial story, but a tender one about how one boy will discover who he is, even if he goes through an emotional Hell to get there. Sometimes, those are the stories worth most telling.
The film begins with Alexis (Felix Lefebve), a 16-year-old boy still in school, in trouble with the authorities. They have questions about his relationship with 18-year-old David (Benjamin Voisin), whom died recently; Alexis was found at his grave, dancing. School officials and his parents are concerned about his recent change in behavior, and hope he can shed light on it. Our story then transitions to six weeks ago, when Alexis took a friend’s boat out on the sea. He falls asleep, and then capsizes. David is out on his boat, however, and rescues him. From there, they are inseparable until David dies in a motorcycle accident. Did Alexis cause it? That is what the story will help explain.
The bulk of the story between Alexis and David feels like “Call Me By Your Name,” except with the romantic attraction out in the open. That’s not meant to trivialize what Ozon does here, though, by comparing it to another movie. In fact, this film felt more authentic not because of how Ozon showed it narratively, but because Lefebve and Voisin feel more at home with their characters, and have a natural chemistry. We believe the ebbs and flows of their relationship leading to David’s death, and why suspicion would be laid on Alexis. And even when Kate (Philippine Velge) comes into the picture as a potential friend/romantic interest for Alexis, seeing the way her character develops within this story is rich and fascinating. Even when more lurid parts of the story come out, the film continues to focus on the growth of Alexis, and seeing how those parts change him makes where the film ends up with him all the more satisfying. This feels like something personal for Ozon, and how he lets Alexis tell his own story is what makes “Summer of 85,” based on a novel by Aiden Chambers, so compelling to watch.
