A comedy about that period of childhood when the hope of changing the world was not “just an illusion”...
Overview
1985. Vincent, almost 13, lives in the suburbs of Paris in a middle-class family, between a distant older brother and parents in constant conflict. Although he is no longer a child and not yet an adult, the film follows his reflections and doubts about identity, friendship, family, and his questions about religion, desire, and love.
Ratings
Curator score: 6.8/10
IMDb: 7.4/10
Letterboxd: 3.74/5
TMDB: 7.3/10
Director
Olivier Nakache, Éric Toledano
Production
Quad Films, Ten Films, Gaumont, TF1 Films Production
Cast
Louis Garrel, Camille Cottin, Simon Boublil, Alexis Rosenstiehl, Pierre Lottin, Jeanne Lamartine, Rony Kramer, Giorgia Sinicorni, Augusto Fornari, Ragnar Le Breton, David Ayala, Adèle Jayle, Elise Luguern, Lilian Wallet, Samuel Maïmoun, Demba Diaw, François Raison, Agnès Boury, Djibril Yoni, Serpentine Teyssier
Curator Review
Verdict
A warm, observant coming-of-age dramedy that blends family chaos, first desire, faith, and suburban memory into something emotionally accessible and lightly nostalgic. It sounds especially appealing if you like character-driven French films that balance humor with melancholy and social texture.
Best for
coming-of-age stories
French family dramas
nostalgic 1980s settings
viewers who like emotional but gentle humor
films about adolescence, identity, and first love
Skip if
you want a tightly plotted story
you dislike nostalgic period detail
you prefer darker or more abrasive teen dramas
you are not in the mood for family conflict and introspection
Overview
Set in 1985 suburban Paris, this looks like a tender, semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story about being almost 13: old enough to feel everything, too young to understand any of it. The premise suggests a film built on small humiliations, private obsessions, and the awkwardness of trying to define yourself while your family is falling apart around you.
Worth noting
The appeal here is the mix of comedy and emotional honesty. The reviews point to a film that is funny without being glib, and nostalgic without becoming empty decoration. It seems especially alive to the textures of the era, the rhythms of family conflict, and the intense, slightly ridiculous way adolescent desire can feel like a matter of life and death.
Bottom line
If you respond to intimate, memory-driven films about adolescence, religion, sexuality, and family identity, this should land well. It may feel a little broad or sentimental for viewers wanting sharper edges, but the craft and emotional warmth sound strong enough to make it an easy recommendation for the right audience.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Aurore (4★) · 2051 likes
J’espère que Mitterrand est heureux de la légalisation du mariage pour tous <3
Elgrandee cliclimoovie (4★) · 1714 likes
Je crois que Yves est cadre
raph11 (4★) · 1232 likes
Si quelqu’un sait comment je peux me dégotter l’ouvrage « Ich liebe dich François » je suis preneur
Gabriel Rolland (3.5★) · 1090 likes
j’aurais pu regarder des heures de Camille Cottin qui danse
A French social portrait that values lived-in realism and the pressures of identity formation.
Topics
coming-of-age, family drama, French cinema, 1980s nostalgia, adolescent identity, first love, suburban setting, religious questioning, light comedy, memory piece