Jeunesse Doree Movie

In this light comedy-drama, Angela (Alexandra Laflandre) and Gwenaelle (Alexandra Jeudon) are two young women who have grown up best friends in a suburb outside of Paris. The two have lived a sheltered life -- a bit more sheltered than they would like -- and when they're given the opportunity to spend their summer break from school photographing historic homes across the country, the girls leap at the chance. As they hit the road, Angela and Gwenaelle get to know a lot more about themselves and each other, and they also meet a few young men along the way. Jeunesse Doree was screened as part of the Directors' Fortnight series at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.

Jeunesse Doree (Gilded Youth) is an enjoyable and well-made coming-of-age movie. But in her scrupulous efforts to avoid cliché and melodrama, writer-director Zaida Ghorab-Volta has made a film that's somewhat slight and episodic. Lacking any real drama or narrative drive, it fades from the memory quickly once it's over. The two leads, Alexandra Jeudon as Gwenaelle and Alexandra Laflandre as Angela, deliver strong, sympathetic performances, and one of the film's great strengths is its portrayal of the gentle shifts their relationship undergoes over the course of their journey. Laflandre embodies Angela's edgy beauty and her openness, while the moon-faced Jeudon is a darker, quieter presence. She manages to make Gwenaelle's social unease and cynicism quite appealing. The film picks up momentum in the last half-hour, when Gwen and Angela briefly stop their exploration for a stay with a group of handsome, idealistic lumberjacks. They gently challenge Gwen's knee-jerk standoffishness, and she responds with amusing defensiveness. The men momentarily threaten to cause a rift in the girls' friendship. When Gwen and Angela get back out on the road, their relationship having weathered the storm, the film has earned the note of joyful release on which it ends.