The film is divided into four segments to depict the four seasons of the year commencing from summer. Isabelle is spending time at the beach with her family. Here, she is like a stereotypical adolescent who spends time with her friends, is inquisitive, and tries to discover herself.
During summer, Isabelle has her first taste of romance. But to Isabelle, happiness and feeling intertwined as one does not materialize. Instead, she feels removal, which is not a welcome sentiment for romance and love. This makes her feel more intrigued about love as well as her role in society.
As autumn rolls in, and the leaves start falling, school starts, and so does Isabelle’s secret life. She starts meeting people outside her usual circle, which sadly does not close the gap between her and her friends or family. In fact, it has the opposite effect. In the end, something unexpected occurs which allow Isabelle to confront the results of her actions and the people she loves.
Main Characters:
Isabelle (Marine Vacth): Isabelle is self-reliant and has a deep thought process, however, she feels isolated with jealousy and hatred. She is inquisitive about the world around her but she is unsure about her own thoughts and emotions. Marine Vacth has done a commendable job in illustrating both Isabelle’s strength and vulnerability.
Sylvie (Géraldine Pailhas): Sylvie is Isabelle’s mother. She has unconditional love for her daughter, but always knows the best way to go about helping her. To an extent Sylvie’s interaction with Isabelle provides insight into the difficulties parents and their teenage children have in understanding each other.
Georges (Johan Leysen): Georges is an old man whom Isabelle encounters at a pivotal moment in her Integration journey. In his account, Isabelle learns that choices have consequences, and that there are instances in life where one is not fully in charge.
Themes in the Movie:
Growing Up and Looking For Your Place in The World:
The film is a portrayal of growing up in the process of self definition. A specific look at Isabelle’s dealings illustrates how complicated the search for emotions, and a rational explanation of events can be.
Feeling Disconnected Emotionally:
Isabelle has a number of acquaintances, but regardless of the frequency of these encounters, she still feels differently and is hesitant with her feelings. A noteworthy aspect of the film is the notion that being in the company of people does not necessarily means being in the family and vice versa, hence It is also valuable to locate individuals for whom you are important and have feelings for.
Understanding Relationships :
The film delves into the aspect of parent-child relationships focusing on how difficult it might be for teenagers to talk to their parents. Sylvie attempts to assist Isabelle, but feels powerless, as she has no idea what Isabelle is dealing with. This facet of the plot depicts the values of communication and trust in a family setting.
Results of Decisions :
Isabelle’s incidents depict that every decision you make, regardless of whether you perceive its effects or not, always has an outcome. Through Isabelle, one learns that personal freedom comes with the idea of personal limits.
How The Film Looks Like And What Is It’s Vibe :
The overall experience of the film is good, as there are several factors that intertwine somehow creating an interesting blend together. The director uses soft colors and natural lighting to emphasize variations in the mood of a particular season or specific changes that happen in Issabelle’s life. Such hush scenes, like that of Isabelle staring at the ocean or looking at herself in the mirror, aid viewers in perceiving her internal world beyond the bounds of words.
The film’s score, especially the song “Je Suis Moi” performed by Françoise Hardy, accentuates the emotion of the film, giving it a deeper layer of meaning.
What Critics and Audiences Thought:
The film “Young and Beautiful” was screened during the Cannes Film Festival and was praised for its sensitive story telling that was not only honest but also intriguing. Marine Vacth as Isabelle was liked by many for her realistic portrayal of the character.
To some viewers, Isabelle’s decisions were rather incomprehensible. Some of the viewers viewed the film as an insightful and thought provoking journey of growing up while others regarded it as overly serious/slow.
What We Can Learn from the Movie:
In brief, ‘Young and Beautiful’ teaches that growing up can be rough with mistakes along the way as one tries to discover oneself. Losing direction is a part of the process for everyone, so it’s perfectly normal when this happens to you. The flick also depicts the significance of having a support network including family and close friends particularly during tougher times of life.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, ‘Young and Beautiful’ in its essence is an intelligently crafted drama revolving around adolescence, decision making and self-discovery. The film captures real life struggles that surround most teenagers transitioning into adults and becoming self-reliant. Ozon perceptively directed the movie while Marine Vacth did justice to her role adding the perfect touch of realism and emotion at the right time.
Young & Beautiful is a film that is worth watching if you love thoughtful quiet and reflective stories about life and relationships. There is a lesson in the film that growing up is a process that is equally embedded with errors and learning moments. And that is fine.
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