Summer by the sea sounds exotic and peaceful. But that quiet never guarantees peace in the heart.

Set by the French seaside, Bonjour Tristesse tells the story of Cecile (Lily McInerny), an 18-year-old woman who enjoys her quiet life with her father, Raymond (Claes Bang) and his girlfriend, Elsa (Nailia Harzoune). However, her life is upended by the arrival of her late mother’s friend, Anne (Chloe Sevigny). As past connections threaten present relationships, Cecile desperately seeks to regain control over her family by unraveling a plan that could potentially have dire consequences.

Directed by Durga Chew-Bose, Bonjour Tristesse is a visually stunning film that burns slowly. Within the first few moments of Tristesse, Chew-Bose slows down his camera in such a way that the viewer cannot help but be drawn into their world. We are meant to experience the quiet pacing of life on the French seaside and the film is shot accordingly. Every frame of the film is presented with care and precision. The colour tones are sun-drenched and dry, leaving the viewer feeling the heat.

Bonjour Tristesse directed by Durga Chew-Bose

After all, life by the sea feels like an endless dream of peace and tranquility.

With impressive confidence, Chew-Bose curates a world that feels both welcoming and uneasy. These are characters that seem to have it all together but, as we get to know them, the reveal their imperfections. Raymond leans into love for his family yet his moral flexibilities make him untrustworthy. Anne follows her heart but is burdened by emotional frailty. Meanwhile, Cecile’s naiveté is charming, even if it isn’t sustainable.

Every one of these characters is buoyed by delightful performances by the cast. Having just come off his violent insurrectionist role in William Tell, Bang shows tremendous range and continues to establish himself as a leading man. As Anne, Sevigny delivers a performance that is both enigmatic and endearing. Though, it’s McInerny who is utterly sublime as the young Cecile. As Cecile, the actress never loses her character’s desire to reclaim her innocence, even as her world is crumbling around her. Though her face is fairly calm, we sense a growing—and conflicted—fury within her that makes her fascinating to watch.

As such, perhaps the most interesting aspect of Tristesse is that it uses the ‘coming-of-age’ trope yet undercuts our expectations. Oftentimes, for films of this nature, the primary impetus of growing up stems from either one’s ability to experiment sexually or some experienced trauma. But Tristesse takes a slightly different approach.

For Celine, the journey to adulthood begins by losing her blinders about the world. Although she has always held her father in high regard, his malaise about life, love and traditional ideals forces her to reconsider her worldview. Suddenly, her dreamlike view of the world is damaged. Then, as her pleasant life by the seaside corrupted, Cecile opens herself up to tap into her darker impulses.

In this way, just as the title suggests, Tristesse seems to argue that maturity stems from a sense of sadness and mourning. There’s a genuine sense of loss that takes hold amongst these characters as they attempt to navigate a world that’s devoid of joy. Are they content? Absolutely. They have want for nothing. However, joy? That’s something different. Each of these characters carry the burden of history yet also have little direction in their lives. But Chew-Bose uses that sense of ennui to explore what it means to maintain hope for a future that seems lost in the moment.

It’s that recognition of the flaws to our innocence that makes Bonjour Tristesse such a compelling viewing. Any potential twist or turn happens with careful consideration for these characters and, most importantly, what that means to move forward.

Bonjour Tristesse is available in theatres on Friday, May 2nd, 2025.