Ozon Discovers Marine Vacth for the Heroine Role

With each new release, from '8 Women' to his recent 'In the House,' François Ozon has consistently surprised the world by tackling entirely different genres and themes. His next subject is the 'season' of age 17, a period explored in numerous novels and films. Through meticulously crafted visuals and a screenplay, he elevates the unique sexuality of this transitional phase in a girl's life into a sophisticated narrative.

The protagonist, Isabelle, is played by Marine Vacth, a former model making her film debut. Vacth is the muse Ozon discovered, stating, 'I saw an inner world and mystery in her eyes.' Géraldine Pailhas, who appeared in Ozon's 'The Key,' plays Isabelle's mother, and Frédéric Pierrot from 'Populaire' takes on the role of her stepfather.

What Happened to This Privileged Girl?

Isabelle is a girl blessed with every advantage. She attends a prestigious high school, her mother is a doctor at a major hospital, and she has never wanted for anything. Her family takes extended vacations during every break. Although separated from her biological father due to her parents' divorce, she has no issues with her mother's remarriage. Her refined beauty attracts attention from the opposite sex, and just before her 17th birthday, she experienced her first sexual encounter during a summer resort holiday.

However, as autumn arrives, Isabelle begins to change. After school, she starts meeting numerous men she met through social media.


One day, an older man dies suddenly during one of these encounters. Isabelle flees the scene, but her secret is soon revealed to the police. Isabelle claims she is not acting for pleasure, nor for money, and refuses to say more. What exactly happened to her?

The age of 17, caught between girlhood and womanhood. This film will likely transport viewers back to that age, a time of youthful freshness, the insolence and arrogance born of unfounded confidence, and the lingering innocence. We will all likely find ourselves time-traveling back to our own 17th year through this work.

'Young & Beautiful'

Opening Saturday, February 15th, at Shinjuku Piccadilly, Cine Switch Ginza, and other venues.

Directed and Written by│François Ozon

Starring│Marine Vacth, Géraldine Pailhas, Frédéric Pierrot, Fantin Ravat, Johan Leysen, Charlotte Rampling

Distribution│Kino Films

2013 / France / 94 min / R18+

http://www.17-movie.jp



© MANDARIN CINEMA-MARS FILMS-FRANCE 2. CINEMA-FOZ