Review by Justin Bateman
Stars Elise Lhomeau, Léa Tissier, Elise Caron, Isabelle Sadoyan
Produced by Philippe Martin
Cinematogrpahy by Hichame Alaouie
Written by Jean-Paul Civeyrac
Certification TBC
Runtime 85 minutes
Directed by Jean-Paul Civeyrac
Teen angst is the subject of Jean-Paul Civeyrac’s latest film but this is no mere overwrought melodrama. Noémie (Lhomeau) has already tried to kill herself once when with the work of German Romanic writer Kleist ringing true to her, convinces equally unhappy best friend Priscilla (Tissier) to make a suicide pact. The two of them can see no reason to go on living but the practicalities and opportunity to go through with that plan is harder than they envisage.
Whether you have sympathetic feelings for rebellious, morose teenagers or not, the fact remains that a small minority of this demographic do end up taking their own lives and Young Girls in Black is a film that doesn’t hold back in portraying this reality. While this is a brave subject to tackle, it also raises the question of filmmaker responsibility. Are the sort of people influenced by their friends into making a suicide pact just as likely to be influenced by a film about something they may already be contemplating? Or does the ultimate responsibility lie with the individual who chooses to watch such a film?
As entertainment, this is a nigh-on impossible film to enjoy but there’s no doubting writer-director Civeyrac’s skill at storytelling. He builds tension neatly and the slow pace suits the subject matter to perfection. Perhaps where he lacks is in characterisation for although the young lead actresses are superb, there is little in the way of explanation for their malaise. They can’t be the only teenagers from broken homes so why do they specifically want to end it all? Beyond rejecting society in general and railing against authority, there doesn’t appear to much in the way of substance behind their issues.
By not attempting to explain the angst – even the girls themselves don’t really discuss the matter, just that they feel like death is the only answer – the overall message is somewhat diluted. Still, it remains a well-made and moving treatise on a difficult subject and one that is not easily forgotten.