Late August, Early September

Late August, Early September

***

Reviewed by: Angus Wolfe Murray

Following the fashion for soap operatic ensemble pieces, with an Eric Rohmer young-people-falling-in-and-out-of-love touch, Olivier Assayas' new film confirms that sex is no substitute to love, friends are an antidote to feeling miserable, living with someone is trench warfare and the titles of French movies these days don't help.

Gabriel has split up with Jenny (sort of) and is getting it on with Anne (not quite). Adrien has split up with the lady who looks like Isabella Rossellini on a bad day and is having a fling with 16-year-old Vera. Gabriel works in TV and then in magazines and then not at all. He smokes a lot. Adrien has written four novels that didn't sell, is sick with a maybe-terminal-something-or-other and refuses to face up to things. Jenny still sees Gabriel. Anne sees other guys. The Rossellini lookasad sees Adrien. No-one is going to be happy.

Copy picture

The performances are from the Be-Yourself-School-of-Non-Acting. Whether you give a damn depends on how much you relate to these people, although there is a certain charm in never making the right decision and still be kissing the wrong girl at the end.

Reviewed on: 19 Jan 2001
Share this with others on...
Young people fall in and out of love soap-opera style in France.
Amazon link

Director: Olivier Assayas

Writer: Olivier Assayas

Starring: Mathieu Amalric, Virginie Ledoyen, François Cluzet, Jeanne Balibar, Alex Descas, Arsinée Khanjian, Nathalie Richard

Year: 1998

Runtime: 112 minutes

BBFC: 15 - Age Restricted

Country: France

Festivals:


Search database:


If you like this, try:

Antares
The Aviator's Wife
Possible Loves