LA BELLE SAISON/ SUMMERTIME

France, 2015, 104 minutes, Colour.
Cecile de France, izia Higelin, Naomie Lvovsky.
Directed by Catherine Corsini.

As can be seen from the title, this is a French film – a very French film. There is something characteristic about the way that French filmmakers show us a town and countryside, loving glimpses of the countryside, herds and crops, characters in these situations – and usually a meal or two.

This particular beautiful season is summer and the audience is immersed in the warmth of summer time, especially on a farm in the Limoges area, getting in the harvest, herding the cattle, assisting in the birth of a calf, on the tractor and ploughing the ground. but, we remember that after summer comes autumn, some chill in the air, matters not so warm as had been thought.

Which means that the title serves as an image and symbol for the experience of the two central characters. It is the 1970s.

First we are introduced to Delphine, izia Higelin, who lives with her parents on the farm, loves farming and helping her family. But, she decides to leave the farm and go to Paris where she is caught up with a group of young women activists whom she encounters on the street, exuberantly ticking off passing men. Curious and attracted, she goes to their meetings, listens to their causes, their songs and exuberance, especially that of Carole, Cecile de France, a vivacious older woman who lives with her boyfriend, Marius.

This is a film about same-sex attraction. Delphine, who has lived quietly at home, disappointed when a young woman she likes goes off to be married, is drawn to Carole who first resists but who then responds quite passionately.

A great deal of the film is taken up with the developing relationship but it all takes place on the farm where Carole goes to visit, joins in all the work on the farm, charms Delphine’s mother, is supportive of the father who has had a stroke and who sits upstairs unable to communicate. All seems to be going well – except that the two women are very secretive about the relationship.

Inevitably, they are seen together, there are some gossip in the town, the mother is shocked at such a perverse relationship and demands that Carole leave. This facilitates an emotional crisis for each of the women, Carole wanting to go back to Paris, Delphine loving the farm and having to make a decision.

The film ends in 1976 with a glimpse of what has happened to each of the women.

1. The French style and atmosphere of the film, characters, countryside, the farm, the people?

2. Limoges, the farm, the town, homes, the contrast with Paris, the streets, the buildings? The musical score?

3. The title, the emphasis on summer, the activities during the summer, especially on the farm? Sunny but Autumn approaching?

4. A film about relationships, same-sex relationships? Lesbian relationships? In the 1970s, in those times, attitudes, homophobia, attitudes about perversion, relationships being hidden, fear of coming out, sense of shame, the consequences? The film offering a 21st-century critique of this behaviour and attitudes?

5. Delphine, her age, stories of her childhood, relationships with the young girl, self-aware, heartbroken with the girl getting married, sole child, relationship with boys, knowing Antoine since she was a girl, her relationship with her parents, the hard work on the farm, driving the tractor, ploughing the fields, collecting the hay, milking and the birth of the calf? Her prospects?

6. Delphine and her decision to leave the farm at home, going to Paris, in the street, the group of girls taunting the angry man, the abortion protests, criticising the male image, getting on the bus, the laughter, the spirit, the decision to go to the meeting, the shrill behaviour, the enthusiasm, the songs, exhilaration? Talking with Carol, attracted to her? The guessing game that what she did, paying the penalty, Carole resisting, the kiss, the beginning of the affair, its effect?

7. Carole herself, her life, age, commitment to causes, feminist? Her relationship with Manuel, liking him, loving him, leaving him? His attitudes towards her, the relationship, praising her independence?

8. Her going to the country, her vivacious personality, keeping the relationship secret, her room, playing the music, Delphine going to the room, their intimacy? Delphine’s father, the stroke, going to hospital? Carole going to work on the farm, the meals, the music, dancing with Delphine’s mother, the exhilaration?

9. The father, the mother, hopes for Delphine, for her to marry? The work on the farm? The stroke, hospital, the father coming home, carrying him up the stairs, his sitting silent, the mother washing him, Carole talking with him, Delphine with him? His moving his finger with her?

10. Antoine, work in the town, seeing the two girls together, at the gathering, his hostility towards Carole? The farmer seeing the two, the gathering with the machines? The whispers? Delphine kissing Antoine and his angrily leaving?

11. Talking with Carole, her sense of freedom, the work on the farm, witnessing the birth of the calf? Her finding it oppressive? Wanting the truth to come out?

12. The mother, fighting out, ousting Carole, branding her as perverted? Delphine deciding to leave with her, their going to the station, Delphine and her decision to stay? Carole on the train, looking for Delphine?

13. The transition to 1976, Carole working for the abortion clinic, dealing with the client? Receiving the letter, reading it, the effect? Delphine, moving out of home, her own farm in the south of France, her independence?

14. 70s story in the light of the 21st-century?