By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 5 cats
Director: André Téchiné
Starring: Alexis Loret | Corentin Fila | Jean Fornerod | Kacey Mottet Klein | Mama Prassinos | Sandrine Kiberlain | Vanessa Duran
Original language title: Quand on a 17 ans
Country: france
Year: 2016
Running time: 116
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4331970/reference
Thom says: “To know that this is Techine’s 29th film recognizes that this he’s indeed a major French film director as he’s used many of the best in the business for his productions that have won quite a few awards. You’ll all recognize such titles as WILD REEDS, SCENE OF THE CRIME, ALICE & MARTIN, THE WITNESSES, THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, CHANGING TIMES… And yet I’ve not been a huge fan and this is his only film I’ve given my highest rating to. While he’s certainly touched on gay themes previously not many of them have the teen romance angst of this charmer. And yet the film is about so much else as well. 17-year-old Damien is in high school where he’s bullied by Thomas, a mixed-race hothead. Damien’s mother Marianne is a prominent pediatrician and his dad Nathan is usually away on dangerous Army maneuvers. When Thomas’ pregnant mother Christine gets seriously ill Marianne offers to take in Thomas as a guest. This obviously has every opportunity to turn into a disaster and, in fact, Thomas & Damien get into a number of fights, both playful and rough, but won’t Damien’s undying love for Thomas finally win out? Charmingly acted and brilliantly plotted this film deserves accolades.