Not much out of the ordinary happens on screen. Muriel, aged 17, lives with her parents, brother and sister near Paris. Mother and Father are in constant noisy discord, facing the end of their relationship, and siblings resent what they see as Mother's preference for Muriel.
Muriel is coming to terms with her sexuality. She tries to enlist Mother's support telling her "she likes girls rather than boys." Mother's reaction is initially negative, but later tries grudgingly to come to terms with reality, perhaps living vicariously through Muriel.
Muriel, low key and lonely, falls in love with her friend Nora, also 17. Nora, a force of nature, does not reciprocate Muriel's feelings (in fact she toys with them rather callously), seduces everybody in sight, drives an unregistered jalopy, dances, sings loudly and leads Muriel into adventures such as spending a few days at the sea on a whim. Fred and Antoine, roughly Muriel's age hang around, with Fred sometimes following Nora's crazy ideas and Antoine sentimentally interested in Muriel. In a funny twist, Muriel and Nora switch sides near the end; the boldest shenanigan is performed by Muriel, with Nora disapproving. Finally, Muriel takes up with Caroline and shunts Nora aside. Intriguingly, Nora says goodbye to Muriel calling her Bernadette.
I found this movie impossible to dislike. Acting is is of such level that the line actor/character disappears, sometimes with a documentary feeling. Script and direction have a dynamic, light and humorous touch. with no hint of pretentiousness. A superior film, not to be missed.
Muriel is coming to terms with her sexuality. She tries to enlist Mother's support telling her "she likes girls rather than boys." Mother's reaction is initially negative, but later tries grudgingly to come to terms with reality, perhaps living vicariously through Muriel.
Muriel, low key and lonely, falls in love with her friend Nora, also 17. Nora, a force of nature, does not reciprocate Muriel's feelings (in fact she toys with them rather callously), seduces everybody in sight, drives an unregistered jalopy, dances, sings loudly and leads Muriel into adventures such as spending a few days at the sea on a whim. Fred and Antoine, roughly Muriel's age hang around, with Fred sometimes following Nora's crazy ideas and Antoine sentimentally interested in Muriel. In a funny twist, Muriel and Nora switch sides near the end; the boldest shenanigan is performed by Muriel, with Nora disapproving. Finally, Muriel takes up with Caroline and shunts Nora aside. Intriguingly, Nora says goodbye to Muriel calling her Bernadette.
I found this movie impossible to dislike. Acting is is of such level that the line actor/character disappears, sometimes with a documentary feeling. Script and direction have a dynamic, light and humorous touch. with no hint of pretentiousness. A superior film, not to be missed.
