Summer of 85

Summer of 85 (French: Été 85) is a 2020 romantic drama film written and directed by François Ozon, partly based on the 1982 novel Dance on My Grave by Aidan Chambers. It stars Félix Lefebvre and Benjamin Voisin.

Not to be confused with Summer of 84.
Summer of 85
Theatrical release poster
FrenchÉté 85
Directed byFrançois Ozon
Screenplay byFrançois Ozon
Based onDance on My Grave
by Aidan Chambers
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyHichame Alaouié
Edited byLaure Gardette
Music byJean-Benoît Dunckel
Production
companies
Distributed byDiaphana Distribution
Release date
  • 14 July 2020 (2020-07-14) (France)
Running time
100 minutes[1]
Countries
  • France
  • Belgium
LanguageFrench
Box office$3.7 million[2][3]

It was released in France on 14 July 2020 by Diaphana Distribution.

Plot

In the summer of 1985 in Normandy, Alexis (Alex), a 16-year-old who is fascinated by death, goes out to sea. A thunderstorm forms, causing his boat to capsize, but he is rescued by David, who is eighteen years old. After this incident, they grow very close and Alexis ends up helping out at David's family shop. The two end up having a relationship in secret, however, David claims he is bored and has an affair with Alexis' friend Kate. Alexis gets very angry and confronts David. They get into a fight and Alex throws a rock at David. Luckily he dodges the rock, but Alexis wrecks the shop and runs out. David chases after Alexis, but ends up dying in a motorcycle crash. Alex, feeling guilty, decides to carry out the pact formed between them: to go and dance on the grave of the one who dies first. Alex gets arrested while doing so, but is pitied by the judge and only charged with 140 hours of community service and a strong recommendation to visit a psychiatrist.

The film alternates between scenes of the two boys' relationship before David's death, and scenes of the aftermath of the accident, in which Alex finds healing in writing his story for his trial on his literature teacher's recommendation.

Cast

Production

In June 2019, it was announced that Félix Lefebvre, Benjamin Voisin and Philippine Velge had joined the cast of the film, with François Ozon directing from a screenplay he wrote.[4] Principal photography began in May 2019.[5]

Release

The film was set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2020, prior to its cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] It was released in France on 14 July 2020.[7] In September 2020, Music Box Films acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.[8] It screened at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival on 13 September 2020.[9] It was released in the United States on 18 June 2021.[10][11]

Reception

Critical reception

Summer of 85 holds an 80% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 101 reviews, with an average of 6.5/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "While not François Ozon's best work, Summer of 85 serves as a beguiling, bittersweet ode to teen love and its lingering after-effects."[12] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 64 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[13]

References
  1. Wiseman, Andreas (3 June 2020). "Cannes Film Festival Reveals 2020 Lineup: Wes Anderson, Steve McQueen, Kate Winslet & Pixar". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  2. "Summer of 85". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  3. "Summer of 85". The Numbers. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  4. Lemercier, Fabien (5 June 2019). "François Ozon shooting Eté 84". CineEuropa. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  5. "En tournage : " Été 84 " de François Ozon". troiscouleurs.fr. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  6. Roxborough, Scott (3 June 2020). "Cannes 2020 Lineup Unveiled". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  7. "Ete 85". Diaphana Distribution. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  8. Keslassy, Elsa (9 September 2020). "Music Box Acquires U.S. Rights to Francois Ozon's Cannes 2020 Highlight 'Summer of 85' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  9. Wiseman, Andreas (July 30, 2020). "Toronto Sets 2020 Lineup: Werner Herzog, Regina King, Mira Nair, Francois Ozon, Naomi Kawase Titles Join Hybrid Edition". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  10. Raup, Jordan (12 May 2021). "U.S. Trailer for François Ozon's Summer of 85 Brings Romance and Mystery". The Film Stage. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  11. "Summer of 85". Film at Lincoln Center. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  12. "Summer of 85 (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  13. "Summer of 85". Metacritic. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
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