There's not a dull moment in Francois Ozon's "Robe d'Ete". It's surprising how much is packed into this short film. While reclining on a deserted beach after a nude swim, a young gay is approached by a girl seeking a light for her cigarette. She invites him to make love in a wooded area near the beach. On returning to the beach. they find that all his clothes have been stolen. She lends him a summer dress to cover his nakedness and requests he return it next day. He rides his bike back to the holiday cabin dressed as a girl. His gay companion is sexually excited. Early next morning the young man returns to the sea and bids farewell to the girl whose holiday has ended. She suggests he keep the dress as a memento of their summer romance. It's a light-hearted film that captures the spirit of summer holidays by the sea, but perhaps not for those who are embarrassed by nudity or homosexual themes.
8 Reviews
Bang Bang, Ozon hits the nail on the head.
Horst_In_Translation29 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Literally, there are tons of short film out there dealing with the always challenging issue on putting homosexuality on the screen. These 15 minutes here should be a must-see for everybody who plans to go into that genre. There are literally so many crap films out there and people still appreciate them, even if they have zero artistic value, only because they are about that subject.
The first scene was already a winner (and that comes from a heterosexual male). The use of Bang Bang there and on other occasions in this film was a brilliant idea. First of all, there is some excellent irony to these two words in the context of this short film, but there is also some outstanding sensuality in Sheila's version. And last, but not least, it's simply an amazing song. Now we have a bisexual male who spends the holidays with his (boy)friend, but he quickly gets annoyed by him acting so gay all the time. So he ends up in a romantic adventure with a young woman. But there is no drama, no tragedy, just happiness for everybody. The boys reunite quickly, the girl gets together with another guy when she leaves the island. There is so harmony and love in here, this is really a wonderful piece of filmmaking. Ozon was in his late 20s when he made this and you could absolutely see the talent he put on show in the last decades. By the way, even if he was still that young that was far from his first effort as a director and writer. A bit of a pity that only the female actress in here from the leading trio pursued a career in acting. Yet, even if they took other paths, they left us a film which is great and small at the same time. Highly recommended.
The first scene was already a winner (and that comes from a heterosexual male). The use of Bang Bang there and on other occasions in this film was a brilliant idea. First of all, there is some excellent irony to these two words in the context of this short film, but there is also some outstanding sensuality in Sheila's version. And last, but not least, it's simply an amazing song. Now we have a bisexual male who spends the holidays with his (boy)friend, but he quickly gets annoyed by him acting so gay all the time. So he ends up in a romantic adventure with a young woman. But there is no drama, no tragedy, just happiness for everybody. The boys reunite quickly, the girl gets together with another guy when she leaves the island. There is so harmony and love in here, this is really a wonderful piece of filmmaking. Ozon was in his late 20s when he made this and you could absolutely see the talent he put on show in the last decades. By the way, even if he was still that young that was far from his first effort as a director and writer. A bit of a pity that only the female actress in here from the leading trio pursued a career in acting. Yet, even if they took other paths, they left us a film which is great and small at the same time. Highly recommended.
Light, romantic, perfectly shot
glabrezu5 March 2003
I'm just starting to explore the so far wonderful world of monsieur Ozon. I've seen only 4 films so far, and with the last one in the row it hit me that all of them were in fact about lonely women and their actions. Not a single non-lonely female character out of 12, and all of them bring heavy impact of surroundings.
This film is probably the only one (out of four) where this impact is for good.
The gay theme is an almost standard part of background for Ozon's films, so it doesn't grab the accent (although the looks of the characters might). Watch for the feelings, not for their objects.
Very nice and fleeting, truly like a summer romance, and while being a relaxation to thought and mind, it gives some food for the soul.
This film is probably the only one (out of four) where this impact is for good.
The gay theme is an almost standard part of background for Ozon's films, so it doesn't grab the accent (although the looks of the characters might). Watch for the feelings, not for their objects.
Very nice and fleeting, truly like a summer romance, and while being a relaxation to thought and mind, it gives some food for the soul.
i'm impressed
kuzmand4 February 2001
i expected it to be good, after i'd seen some other ozon's superb moments, and read much about it... but this movie is brilliant - clever, very bright (emotionally and visionally), perfect in all moments. every movement is there for a reason, everything fits so closely and primordially true and honest. this is the movie about the beauty and innocence; about it's simplicity.
Superb
Vincentiu27 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Subtle, delicate ,touching.
A young man in a summer dress on a bike like incarnation of perfect joy. History of a coming -out and anatomy of relationship.
Soft ambiguous gestures, slices of desire and a day like space of innocent miracle expression.
Two men, a girl, a afternoon on beach, some words and a gift. Religious traces and a pantheist vision. Cercle of light and expression, nooks of an ordinary day and hot evening.
A erotic chaste film in which the gay identity or the first sexual relation are only instruments for good definition of a universe with sensitives values.
Pledge for self- discover, universe of beauty exploration, the sign of Ozon and same nostalgic air of every creation, "Robe d'ete" is a splendid occasion to understand the moment like projection of dream, to look, with emotion and child soul the essence of the essence beyond the images or people.
A young man in a summer dress on a bike like incarnation of perfect joy. History of a coming -out and anatomy of relationship.
Soft ambiguous gestures, slices of desire and a day like space of innocent miracle expression.
Two men, a girl, a afternoon on beach, some words and a gift. Religious traces and a pantheist vision. Cercle of light and expression, nooks of an ordinary day and hot evening.
A erotic chaste film in which the gay identity or the first sexual relation are only instruments for good definition of a universe with sensitives values.
Pledge for self- discover, universe of beauty exploration, the sign of Ozon and same nostalgic air of every creation, "Robe d'ete" is a splendid occasion to understand the moment like projection of dream, to look, with emotion and child soul the essence of the essence beyond the images or people.
Money lost
tradufrance8 April 2012
Every other review here has been written by non-French. So I make the difference, which makes sense as well. This short film is not the expression of what is going on in France or in French sexuality. Only some very small Parisian bi-sexual circles will recognize themselves, and yet even they will not like the film. Why? Because it is bloody badly acted! You, other reviewers, who do not speak French, may be charmed, but to my ears, it all sounds massively false. I guarantee you: no-one talks like that, no-one acts like that. So what is the thing about this film, and how on earth did Ozon manage to raise the funds to make it? Surely, because in the French film world, no single person would like to be considered as being "frustrated", so they all have to pretend that the subject is worthwhile financing. Well, it wasn't...
touching
Kirpianuscus23 June 2016
for its high simplicity. and for the special story. because , in 15 minutes, a long confession about youth, meetings, summer, significance of a beach day , importance of a summer dress are presented. in Ozon manner, off course. but the film seems be complete, each detail solid and clear and pure, the dialogues - as frame of events. a film about youth, joy and coming out. its seductive eroticism. its chaste love scenes. its profound, delicate and subtle message about the importance of small, ordinary things. a young man on a bike to beach. and the revelation of the return. an incident. and a gift. all in precise manner presented by a director who, with a not comfortable humor, gives new senses to well known facts.it is not fair to define it as a gay movie. maybe, only, as inspired portrait of discoveries of a special age.
Rubbish
infoed19 December 2003
Yet another film that tries to be edgy but only reinforces the whole "heterosexuality is more normal and desirable than being gay." I love the films that are "gay-themed" but seem to always have to include scenes of gay guys having sex with women. This seems to be a European thing, the whole "we are so much more liberated." Feh.
The main character is not a particularly likable kid, his annoyance at the beginning with his friend's singing and dancing seems extremely out of proportion. Most guys would be very, very happy to have a man as gorgeous as Sebastien Charles dancing in front of them. But of course this is only so we can get him to go to the beach and have his little fling. The gay side of the film is stereotyped with shallowness and unhappiness. The straight fling results in a sappy score and Summer of '42 like musings. (And to those who find this film "romantic" ... what's so romantic about running off and having sex with somebody you've just met? Does their being straight make it that much more romantic?)
This is not a great short. It's backwards and somewhere along the self-loathing of Tennessee Williams. Throw it on the trash heap.
The main character is not a particularly likable kid, his annoyance at the beginning with his friend's singing and dancing seems extremely out of proportion. Most guys would be very, very happy to have a man as gorgeous as Sebastien Charles dancing in front of them. But of course this is only so we can get him to go to the beach and have his little fling. The gay side of the film is stereotyped with shallowness and unhappiness. The straight fling results in a sappy score and Summer of '42 like musings. (And to those who find this film "romantic" ... what's so romantic about running off and having sex with somebody you've just met? Does their being straight make it that much more romantic?)
This is not a great short. It's backwards and somewhere along the self-loathing of Tennessee Williams. Throw it on the trash heap.
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