Jeune & Jolie

An excellent film, good story telling. I would class it as educational film for parents of teenagers.

This is tale about a young and beautiful girl, just turned 17, who decides to become a prostitute. It's a well-made film, superbly acted all round and directed in a manner that takes its subject-matter seriously, presenting the story in a seductively tasteful manner that captures a sense of tragedy. It's a French film - with English subtitles - predominantly set on location in Paris. On the eve of her 17th birthday, Isabelle (Marine Vacth) has sex for the first time, with a boy she's met on holiday. It's certainly not a sensual or romantic affair, and the experience leaves her feeling alienated from sex. Fascinated by this, and possibly in an effort to overcome it, Isabelle becomes a prostitute. She's attracted to the physical aspect of the encounter, as she's highly sexed, although she finds many of the clients unattractive and their demands distasteful. Yet, enjoying the thrill of such encounters, combined with the money she earns, Isabelle becomes caught-up in these goings-on. And, given her age and beauty, she's in great demand. Moving from one job to the next, prostitution starts to dominate her life. That is, until something happens - an unforeseen event - that forces Isabelle to rethink what she's doing. And when her family discover her secret, everything gets turned upside down. Marine Vacth offers an unforgettable performance. On the one hand, she's sweet, tender and vulnerable; yet on the other, she's in control, determined and self-motivated. There is an erotic dimension to this film, and the sex scenes are moderately explicit. Certainly Vacth is eye-catching. Yet this is more a film about a girl 'coming of age' - and deciding how to go about experiencing sex. In her quiet, introspective way, Isabelle is seeking her place in the world, trying to fit in, whilst doing so on her own terms. For all that's good about this film (which is a lot), I do think that the portrayal of prostitution is somewhat naïve. Isabelle lives a comfortable life, as part of a middle class family, and wants for nothing. Put simply, there's nothing motivating her to become a prostitute; that is, aside from a single disappointing sexual experience. As such, perhaps the film could have done more to present an explanation. It hints at such possibilities (e.g. divorced parents), but ultimately offers a narrative centred on Isabelle's choice to engage in self-degradation - without an explanation as to why. Nonetheless, for anyone who enjoys French films starring stunningly attractive young females, this is a worthwhile movie.

A young girl turns to prostitution to make easy money. The death of a client leads to the police and her mother becoming involved.

nice chick 17 yr but morals are gone out the window {no one will ever know why?}, she would go with either men or women just for money. Hope kids are not like her but society is sordic.

great

GREAT FILM...

This has to be one of the most boring movies I have ever seen. I wish I hadn't purchased it. The story is very long winded. I watched the first 10 minutes and fast forwarded the rest stopping occasionally to see it if would spark my interest. It never did. If you want a movie to go to sleep to purchase it, or better still count sheep!!

This is a curious film about a teenager who choses to become a prostitute for no apparent reason. She comes from a well off family and doesn't need the money. Despite the writer/director claiming to have researched its subject it takes a fairly simplistic view of "the game." Not that I'm any expert in such matters. It's slow moving but contains some fine performances and is well directed.

Le thème de la prostitution à l'adolescence est un sujet extrêmement périlleux et François Ozon le traite avec justesse, de manière à la fois crue mais sans vulgarité et surtout sans pathos : il ne s'agit ni des misérables, ni de l'exploitation pédophile, ni d'une banalisation de la prostitution estudiantine, ni d'une mise en accusation ; ici, il ne porte pas de jugements, libre à chacun de s'interroger car vivre n'est pas si simple... Il met en pleine lumière la terrifiante beauté de l'éveil du désir qui taraude le corps dans le paradoxe du rejet des conventions sociales, ou du projet idéalisé des parents pour leur enfant, et la quête de l'affirmation de soi face à celle du bien et du mal dans une société où les limites sont parfois si floues, face à la nécessité finalement de faire comme tout le monde (il faut y passer). Le film n'est absolument pas manichéen avec les méchants mâles exploiteurs d'un côté et la féminité naïvement pure, fragile et avilie de l'autre. Au contraire, n'adoptant pas une perspective moralisatrice, François Ozon, nous donne à sentir comme une part de nous-mêmes peut avoir de commun avec chacun des personnages dans nos propres moments d'inconscience, ceux de mauvaises consciences ou nos illusions de pleine conscience, que l'on soit adulte ou non et fonction du type de compréhension à laquelle on a accès. Marine Vacth qui joue Isabelle, est certes jeune et jolie, avec quelque chose entre la belle candeur sensuelle d'une Lætitia Casta et l'intériorité d'une Lou Doyon, mais elle incarne avec beaucoup de pudeur toute la force des pressions pulsionnelles (à décharger), assumées et détachées du lien affectif à autrui dans le port sans attache des relations humaines d'une société industrielle, tout en recherchant la signification du rapport intime, l'authenticité de l'érotisme ("Ne simule pas sois naturelle") et la vérité de l'amour. Le couple de la famille recomposée n'a rien vu venir, Frédéric Pierrot interprète un beau-père humain à l'intelligence bienveillante qui, comme tout le monde, ferraille avec le trouble de la situation et ses propres incertitudes existentielles, le désarroi de la mère d'Isabelle ... Un élément fort du scénario est qu'il évite de tomber dans des schémas tout faits, l'obscénité émotionnelle, la pornographie des sentiments, la proposition d'une thèse du type « malaise dans la civilisation », le glauque ... Bref, un très beau film, une grande comédienne, ... entre autre ...

Desconozco la mayoria de edad que recomiendan que se vea esta pelicula ,supongo 16 ..., pero bueno se puede ser maduro para ver este tipo de cine con 12 años ...yo la recomiendo tanto a chicos como chicas y a padres...por que es una historia tan real como la vida misma......Esta historia ofrece una familia desustructurada...;pero no tiene por que ..; igual hubiese sido ... Marine Vacth ,es una interpréte solvente ,(Isabelle) que te atrapa ,la deseas, y quieres saber por que? ..... Pero saquen conclusiones a mi me ha encantado, su b.s.o con temas de Francoiçe Hardy y el que cierra la pelicula "Je suis moi" " Yo soy yo" (1973) ...lo dice todo......excelente.....premiada y laureada en Cannes ,justamente; Marine Vacth ; deseo verla en futuros trabajos, pues el film se sustenta gracias a ella que retrata a Isabelle de manera sublime.......................

Non è un film sulla prostituzione minorile, secondo impropria definizione datane, ma un film che racconta di quella misteriosa, problematica stagione di crescita e di formazione della vita che è l'adolescenza. Essa è sviluppata tramite una storia di prostituzione minorile che non costituisce però il tema centrale della pellicola ma piuttosto lo strumento utilizzato dal regista per descrivere in maniera del tutto asettica, senza indulgere in facili moralismi e senza compiacimento alcuno, la spiazzante deriva della giovane protagonista. Quest'ultima, che non riesce a costruire un soddisfacente rapporto di coppia con un coetaneo, che non riesce a incalanare il suo percorso di crescita nella giusta direzione, appare freddamente enigmatica, profondamente arida, incapace di amare ma sarà realmente così? Ozon si diverte a giocare con lo spettatore infarcendo la storia di elementi che possano indurre una riflessione (quell'inaspettata lacrima che solca il viso della protagonista ed ancor più il dolcissimo, delicato finale) nel rispetto dell'opinione di ciascuno, senza necessariamente offrire una sua predominante lettura. Mai prima d'ora il mondo dell'adolescenza era stato trattato con tale efficacia, con tale cruda dirompenza, con la forza che traspare da ogni fotogramma e che la fascinosa Marine Vacht rende con profonda e concentrata intensità. Interessanti le interviste raccolte negli extra.

Review Part I (what I thought I saw...) Well made (and acted) film by Francois Ozon. As Isabelle (Marine Vacht) demonstrated throughout the film, she (seemingly) didn't get any enjoyment from her first encounter. Something in her just clicked, as if to say, "If I'm going to put myself through this, I might as well get paid for it." It's strange how (mostly) these films involved people from well-to-do families. Her home situation was rather normal. Loving mom, decent step-dad and her younger brother (who she obviously was close to - despite the age gap). Ultimately, I viewed her as an old soul who didn't know what she truly wanted - and what gap she was trying to fill with her...part type career. Some reviewers noted that there was no real resolution on how Isabelle was going to end up. My view: She's Seventeen - Don't expect any... Review - Part II (what I finally saw...) First, let me admit that I've had several viewings of this excellent movie under my belt. That said, it just goes to show you how much one can miss. The hints/clues and symbolism of what Isabelle is all about are there in front of you - you really have to pay attention from the very beginning. Ultimately, for Isabelle - it's about being in control - literally - on top. She's seeking, always seeking something that she hadn't experienced in her first intimate encounter - as she had NO CONTROL (though she was a willing participant) during the event. From then on, Isabelle was the pleasure giver (and, even more interesting that she made a...BUSINESS out of it)! That being said, you may require several views...to get it! Most recommend! Five stars!

A very interesting film about the daughter of a woman who herself cheats on her second husband. The 17 year old very beautiful student begins her experimentation with sex, behind her parents back and discovers that she can get paid for it by much older men. She just likes the sex or thinking about what happens after the fact, she is not looking for a steady lover. She continues until one day her much older clients dies while having sex, and the police contact her parents. The film is done with much realism and it is sensual, but not too graphic, a very European film where the sexuality is more open and accepted. Very nicely done.