“Bonjour Tristesse”: the adaptation of Françoise Sagan’s novel arrives in cinemas
After an acclaimed premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024, “Bonjour Tristesse”, directed by Durga Chew Bose, will be released in May 2025. A refined cast and sensitive direction revisit Françoise Sagan’s masterpiece.
A promising adaptation with an exceptional cast
Françoise Sagan‘s iconic 1954 novel is given a new lease of life under the direction of Durga Chew Bose. For her directorial debut, the Canadian essayist and writer tackles this tale of learning, which at the time caused a scandal for its modernity and audacity. The film brings together an eclectic and inspired cast with Chloë Sevigny, Claes Bang, Aliocha Schneider and Lily McInerny, promising perfect chemistry between the characters.
Filmed on the Côte d’Azur in a setting bathed in light, the feature promises to be a veritable ode to carefree youth and the emotions of love. The director, known for her delicate, introspective writing style, transposes a new, feminine and contemporary reading of the novel, exploring in depth the complexity of feelings and power relationships between the characters.
A summer of freedom and disillusionment
At the heart of the film, 17-year-old Cécile (Lily McInerny) spends an idyllic summer in the Mediterranean villa of her father, Raymond (Claes Bang). Between sunny days and carefree evenings, the young girl discovers the first thrills of love with Cyril (Alyosha Schneider), a gentle, poetic boy. The lightness of this universe is shattered by the arrival ofAnne (Chloë Sevigny), an elegant and rigorous woman determined to bring order to this floating existence.
Torn between the desire for emancipation and the fear of change, Cécile sees her carefree spirit crack, confronted by silent rivalry and the complexity of human relationships. The film promises to capture all the duality of Sagan’s novel: an apparent lightness that conceals a disturbing psychological depth.
A tribute to femininity and adolescent emotions
Durga Chew Bose’s adaptation reflects on femininity and the passage to adulthood, a central theme of the book. By shedding light on the inner lives of her heroines, the director accentuates the games of seduction, power and vulnerability that bind the characters together.
Scheduled for release in May 2025, Bonjour Tristesse promises to be both a faithful and modernized adaptation of the cult novel. A film where sun, sea and summer love mingle with the shadows of melancholy and desire, capturing all the poetry of the original work.
Also read: Eva Longoria celebrates her 50th birthday with a stunning figure
