Home / Arts and Entertainment / 80s Coming-of-Age: Parents Steal the Show
80s Coming-of-Age: Parents Steal the Show
8 Sep
Summary
- Film revisits 1980s Paris suburbs through a boy's eyes.
- Parents' marriage crisis becomes more compelling than the plot.
- Nostalgic period details include an IBM computer and video rentals.
Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano, renowned for their hit 'Intouchables,' have directed a nostalgic coming-of-age drama set in the 1980s Paris suburbs. The story centers on Vincent, a 13-year-old boy navigating his barmitzvah preparations. The backdrop is a nation facing recession, with his father recently laid off and his mother pushing forward in her secretarial career.
Vincent's personal life includes a crush on a classmate and minor scrapes, such as accidentally renting a soft pornographic film. However, the film's most captivating element is the depiction of his parents' tumultuous marriage. Louis Garrel and Camille Cottin deliver charismatic performances, highlighting the era's changing gender roles and the pressures on women balancing work and home.
The film fondly recalls period details like a large IBM computer. Yet, the narrative's true strength lies in the dramatic tension between Vincent's parents. Their story of marital crisis offers a more engaging experience than the boy's adolescent journey, suggesting a missed opportunity for the filmmakers to fully explore this dynamic.
