“Falcon Lake”, a libertarian and melancholy teen movie by Charlotte Le Bon

DIRECTORS’ FORTNIGHT

A large chalet on the edge of a lake, in the shade of tall trees. The characters discover themselves in the half-light and the ray of light filtering through the shutters. The first feature film by actress Charlotte Le Bon, Falcon Lakeinspired by the comic strip by Bastien Vivès, A sister (Casterman, 2017) and presented at the Directors’ Fortnight, works on the graphic image, without particular audacity.

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The most interesting thing is played out by the two teenagers who inhabit this film with ghosts: Bastien (Joseph Engel), almost 14 years old, and Chloé (Sara Montpetit), just 16 years old, meet in the summer in the vast house, each with his respective parents – whom we will hardly see. Their playground is between the lake, the fridge full of beers and the room they share with the little brother.

funny scenes

We feel Bastien melancholy, complexed by his skinny body. Chloe impresses him with her infinite legs, her swollen chest. Less predictable than it seems, the film surprises by skipping stages: very quickly, the duo becomes inseparable, Chloé does not snub Bastien while gently making fun of him, she takes him everywhere, with the “big guys” , these 18-20 year old boys who hang around him.

Sometimes wobbly, or a little flat in its rhythm, Falcon Lake seduced by its libertarian tone, giving rise to some comical scenes. A fine performance by the two young actors who recount the awakening to sexuality of their characters. Sara Montpetit’s liveliness is surprising. As for Joseph Engel, he proves to be incredibly shrewd in his acting, finding irresistible gestures to embody this between-two ages of adolescence, sometimes tiny, sometimes larger than life.

French and Canadian film by Charlotte Le Bon. With Joseph Engel, Sara Montpetit, Monia Chokri, Arthur Igual (1h40). Theatrical release soon.

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