The story of a middle class teenage French prostitute during the four seasons in one year. In summer, 17 year Isabelle is vacationing with her family at a seaside location, where she loses her virginity at the beach with a young German tourist. By autumn, she is already working as a prostitute, unbeknownst to her family, having joyless sex with clients that are considerable older than her. In winter, the death of a client and the subsequent intervention of the police helps her family caught up with her side job, something which does not exactly thrill them (especially her mother, played by Geraldine Pailhas).
Isabelle (played by pretty Marine Vatch) is a bit inexpressive and something of a cipher, although this might be intended by the director as to signal the aimlessness of her generation. Her closest attachment is to her brother, who is about 12, to which she confides her sex life (their relationship does not seem entirely healthy though the movie does not dwell upon this).
Director Francois Ozon's preoccupations are typically French, though he is not as self indulgent as other directors of his nationality, and he is aware that he needs to engage his audience. Not a bad film, though the recent Slovenian film Slovenka tackled a similar theme more successfully. The inconclusive ending doesn't help either. Charlotte Rampling has a small cameo towards the end.
Isabelle (played by pretty Marine Vatch) is a bit inexpressive and something of a cipher, although this might be intended by the director as to signal the aimlessness of her generation. Her closest attachment is to her brother, who is about 12, to which she confides her sex life (their relationship does not seem entirely healthy though the movie does not dwell upon this).
Director Francois Ozon's preoccupations are typically French, though he is not as self indulgent as other directors of his nationality, and he is aware that he needs to engage his audience. Not a bad film, though the recent Slovenian film Slovenka tackled a similar theme more successfully. The inconclusive ending doesn't help either. Charlotte Rampling has a small cameo towards the end.