Consuming love between two young men in France's Normandy region in 1985 is the subject of gay French auteur Francois Ozon's latest film, aptly titled Summer of 85. The film, originally set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and canceled due to the pandemic, is now set for a release in France on July 14.
With its setting at the height of the '80s, its European backdrop, and soundtrack that includes classics from the Cure and Banarama, Summer of 85 is sure to draw comparisons to another gay-themed arthouse film in recent memory -- Luca Guadagnino's Call Me by Your Name. But Ozon, known for Swimming Pool, 8 Women, In the House, The New Girlfriend, and is stylistically and thematically his own director.
The official description for the film reads:
"Summer of 85 is a story of friendship and love between two teenage boys at a seaside resort in Normandy in the mid-1980s. When 16-year-old Alexis capsizes off the coast of Le Treport, 18-year-old David heroically saves him. Alexis thinks he's just met the friend of his dreams. But will the dream last more than one summer? Ozon's screenplay -- adapted from a novel by English author Aidan Chambers -- and direction showcase his unique ability to play with genre, including irresistible nods to American teen movies. The soundtrack features songs by The Cure, Bananarama, and Rod Stewart, among other 80s pop gems. Straddling darkness, comedy, and sensuality, Summer of 85 is ultimately a poignant tale about experiencing love for the first time."
The movie stars Felix Lefebvre (Alexis), Benjamin Voisin (David), Philippine Velge, Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi, Melvil Poupaud, and Isabelle Nanty.
Watch the stunning trailer below.
