Review: Young And Beautiful (Jeune Et Jolie)

7th January 2014

This is the latest offering from François Ozon and his observations on class and human sexuality after his last film “In the house/ Dans la maison” in 2012.

In Young and Beautiful we are introduced to a very beautiful young woman, Isabelle, who is regarded as an object by all the men around her. The opening shot shows her young, 13 year old brother, watching her sunbathe naked and then later masturbate on a hot summer’s afternoon. Their relationship is rather too close for comfort. Even her step father walks in on her having a shower and ogles her.

During the summer holiday’s she loses her virginity in lacklustre fashion to a dull, teenage boyfriend after which we see her prostituting herself to older men. Why does she do it? We are never told explicitly although it is suggested that maybe after watching a documentary something clicked in her head.What does she do with the money? She hoards it. What is certain is that she doesn’t do it for the money coming from a very upper middle class. The film follows Isabelle turning tricks up until the moment one of her older client’s has a heart attack in the middle of the act and the consequences that ensues once the police inform her unsuspecting mother of her daughter’s extra-curricular activities.

Whilst the actress, Marince Vacht, is perfectly cast in the title role, the film lilts from one act to another and ensuing consequences never quite providing any explanation. Ultimately without providing any satisfactory conclusions to the audience, François Ozon doesn’t give us much reason or desire to care about Isabelle and what happens to her. Or maybe that is the genius of the film, can there ever be a black and white conclusion when the subject matter includes human emotion and sex?

Having said all of the above, there is a certain beauty in the way in which each act of the film follows the Seasons and a cameo role by consistently excellent Charlotte Rampling at the end as the widow of Isabelle’s older client lifts the film and provides much needed direction.

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