La Belle Saison – movie review

An attractive and engaging feminist film that allows us – the audience – to really care for the characters, La Belle Saison (which translates as Summertime) is also a period piece.

The year in 1971. Delphine (Izia Higelin), the daughter of hard-working farmers, moves to Paris to break free of the shackles of her parents and to gain her independence. It is there that she meets Carole (Cecile de France), the inspirational leader of the feminist movement, which is in its infancy. Although Carole lives with boyfriend, Manuel (Benjamin Bellecour), she and Delphine forge an strong bond and their lives are turned upside down. In time, Delphine moves back to the farm and Carole follows, but the idea of an openly gay relationship in these times and in this place, with the sway Dephine’s parents and the community’s judgment, is too much to hope for.

Director and co-writer Catherine Corsini wanted to pay tribute to feminist women “who have often been vilified … called sex-starved neurotics”. Ms Corsini came to realise she owed many of the benefits she lives by today to these women who fought and campaigned for them. She says homosexuals have “been instrumental in the emancipation of women in general”. She chose to set La Belle Saison in the ‘70s because the vitality and audacity of the feminist movement at that time appealed to her.

The stirring performances of the two leads ensure the story looks and feels real. The farm girl and the city slicker who takes a powerful role in the women’s rights movement should never have even met and got together. But they did and now it becomes a question of how to sustain a relationship considered taboo in the close-knit environment, which the dab farm hand calls home. The push and pull of the farm girl’s parents versus her love/lust for her highly competent girlfriend are in constant conflict and dictate the ebb and flow of proceedings. Then there’s Carole’s live-in male lover who is forced to take a back seat as the burgeoning relationship – her first with a woman – develops.

The film is beautiful to look at, with the city and rural cinematography a feature. Jeanne Lapoirie is responsible. So it is hard not to be affected by what you see. Rated MA, La Belle Saison provides food for thought and leaves a favourable and long lasting impression. It scores a 7½ out of 10.

Director: Catherine Corsini
Cast: Izia Higelin, Cecile de France, Benjamin Bellecour
Release Date: 15 September 2016 (limited)
Rating: MA 15+

Alex First