Bonjour Tristesse (STAR) - Victoria Film Festival

Bonjour Tristesse (STAR)

Venue Star Cinema Sidney
Director Durga Chew-Bose
Length 110 mins
Rating Not Rated (19+ Screening)

Bonjour Tristesse (STAR)

$14.29 Plus Service Fee

# of Tickets
  • VFF 2025

Showtime:
10-Feb 7:00PM Star Cinema

Bonjour Tristesse

Languid + Twisted + Tense 

Directed by Durga Chew-Bose

France, UK, Canada, USA / 2024 / 110 mins / Drama

Synopsis

Picture summer in the south of France: the shimmering blue of the bay, bowls heaping with fresh strawberries, and warm evening breezes that sweep over you like a lover’s touch, while wine stains your lips a rich red. It’s a scene straight out of a dream—one of those rare, picturesque places on Earth where time seems to slow. That is, unless you’re one of the wealthy, entitled characters in the latest adaptation of Françoise Sagan’s Bonjour Tristesse. 

In Bonjour Tristesse, up-and-coming filmmaker (and Variety’s Top 10 Directors to Watch) Durga Chew-Bose crafts a beautifully intimate exploration of self-discovery, love, and the complexities of modern relationships. Cécile (Lily McInerny) and her widowed father, Raymond (Claes Bang, The Square), are spending the summer in the south of France with his new girlfriend, Elsa (Nailia Harzoune). Their peaceful routine is shaken when Anne (Chloë Sevigny, in a charismatic performance), a longtime friend of Cécile’s parents, arrives unexpectedly. 

Anne soon becomes the dominant character, causing tension with Elsa by suddenly taking on a motherly role, pushing schoolwork on Cécile, and putting an end to her time with a local man. 

The film’s gentle pacing and lush cinematography reflect Chew-Bose’s nuanced, artful direction, showcasing her ability to capture the quiet, often-overlooked moments that shape our lives. – MH