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Spring Blossom ★★★

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Director : Suzanne Lindon

Starring : Suzanne Lindon, Arnaud Valois

Released : 23rd April 2021 (VOD)

At the age of 15, Suzanne Lindon wrote a screenplay that would begin her path into filmmaking. The daughter of renowned French actors Vincent Lindon & Sandrine Kiberlain has been immersed in cinema her whole. Five years later, she was able to finance her directorial debut, which she stars in her own film too (talk about a triple threat).

Revisiting elements of her life, Lindon stars as a gawky, awkward teenager who never seems to quite fit in with her classmates. She doesn’t share their tastes or their plans. She only has eyes for dashing 30-something actor Raphael (Arnaud Valois) who works at the theatre she passes each day. Curiosity gradually turns to infatuation in a tale of first love that unfolds among the streets and cafes of a sun-kissed Montmartre.

There is a lot to admire in Suzanne Lindon’s debut, Spring Blossom. The film is a subtle and quaint experience. Lindon brings such a raw ferocity within her performance and through the ambience of every frame. That human connection of being a teenager instantly strikes and accord with an audience. Finding our way within the world truly starts at this period in our lives. Suzanne seems lost within her friend circle and is searching for her purpose and her first love. Lindon leaves herself isolated in wide spaces, and that tonal feeling of a hollowed soul can be felt. This uncomfortable notion sets the tone of things to come.

Once Raphael appears on screen, this love story develops with a pure sense of organicity. Lindon shares her sense of universal love regardless of age, and while he is much older, this subject matter is tread on lightly. This youthful sense of love is quite energetic, and how it changes anyone who has been struck by cupids arrow. Suzanne has that lust for life that she has been craving and that summer adventure she has been searching for. The rapport between Lindon and Valois is almost instantaneous and never feels uncomfortable. Through Lindon’s purist framing the spark and connection, they both have flows through the fabric of Spring Blossom. The sensuous movements through music feels liberating and further evokes the chemistry between our protagonists.

Deep within the natural melancholy of Lindon’s vision is a very well crafted film. Her composure to allow her story to be told is utterly mesmeric. For such a young artist to deliver what she has is impressive. While the subject matter is balanced on a fine edge, it does require some more depth within its context. It almost feels as the pace of Spring Blossom loses its footing at some points, or Lindon goes off course and takes a few minutes to realign her tale. These stories are re-told countless times, and the narrative does suffer from this coming of age fatigue we see in cinema.

Regardless of these issues, Spring Blossom is a profound and energetic film, and Suzanne Lindon has an exciting career ahead of her.

Lover of all things indie and foreign language. Can be found rambling on YouTube at times!

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