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Les Filles ne savent pas nager
2000 Drama
Review
Anne-Sophie Birot made an impressive directorial debut with this strikingly realist portrait
of adolescent rebellion and self-discovery. Whilst the film’s pacing is somewhat
uneven (the first half being rather slow and incoherent), it is nonetheless a noteworthy
film, thanks largely to the convincing performances of its two young lead actresses, Isild
Le Besco and Karen Alyx.
The film’s depth and power only becomes apparent in its second half, when we see the contrast between Gwen and Lise and then their heart-breakingly tragic reunion. The raw beauty of the Brittany setting, captured by the excellent cinematography, heightens the film’s impact and somehow emphasises the vulnerable and wayward nature of the two girls. It is a pity that the film relies on an unlikely shock ending to close the narrative when a more probable, naturalistic ending would perhaps have been and more effective. © James Travers 2002 Write a review for this film...User Comments
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Director:
Anne-Sophie Birot
Starring: Isild Le Besco, Karen Alyx, Pascale Bussières, Pascal Elso, Marie Rivière Synopsis
Gwen is a young teenager who lives in a coastal town with her unemployed father and mother.
Each year, her friend Lise, a city girl, comes to visit her, but this year things have
changed. Gwen has a boyfriend and is obsessed with sex, whilst Lise is in mourning
after the death of her father. When they meet, it looks as if the two girls no longer
have anything in common...
Credits
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