This is the best film I’ve seen since Portrait of a Lady on Fire. I adore Celine Sciamma so much. I know there is a desire to call this a “little film”, but it is so much more than that and I believe it’s worthy of much higher praise. It’s perfect. The world building is absolutely incredible (oddly enough on Arcade Fire day it evoked the opening lines of Funeral for me). There isn’t a wasted frame or line of dialogue. Sciamma makes so much use of silence and negative space. Near empty castles or homes, she can fill them with mystery and wonder. Two lovers or a mom and a daughter wrapped in a white bedsheet (PoaLoF). A lonely kid playing with friends in the woods (Tomboy). The booming French electro drops (Girlhood). It such a culmination of everything she has done. I was bowled over and blown away. It’s like art house Back to the Future.
Well damn this was outstanding. Easily the best film I have seen this year (and would have been my number one last year if I saw it then). Just incredible. I just watched Portrait for the first time too and hot take: this is better although both films are very good
Disappointed in myself for forgetting about this and missed that it ever hit streaming. I remember being really excited for it when the trailer was shown ahead of The Worst Person In The World. Anyway, just watched, that was very sweet. “I’m already thinking about you.” Geez.