Une fille facile

While at least one of the main actresses in this was about a decade older than the character she portrayed, you almost buy it. And she plays it loose and "innocent". Though most would not call her innocent at all. Not in any sexual way that is, because she really puts herself out there.

And while she is doing that, her friend is the introvert and able to express herself the same way. Now if you are judging one or the other, that is I reckon fair. But remember that we are all different and we do experience things different. This is about a summer that helps both those girls grow to become the person they end up to be.

Maybe not highly philosophical, maybe not the best movie, but it is quite the decent one. If you don't mind the occasional nudity and sexual situation depicted here that is of course. Sparsely used but still some may feel "offended"

Although it's set in the present day, there's a feeling that the events of this film are dredged from distant memories. It begins with the start of Naïma's last school holidays growing up in the strange double world of Cannes. Naïma herself (played by Mina Farid) comes from a normal world where her mother works as a chambermaid in one of the posh hotels frequented by the people from the other world of ridiculous idleness and unfeasibly opulent motor yachts moored on the front.

Out of the blue, Naïma's older cousin, Sofia appears and it's quickly apparent that she is the "fille facile" of the title, her over-tanned body easily flaunted for any passing lothario. Zahia Dehar has apparently some autobiographical experience to draw on in depicting Sofia and she makes the best of a fairly meagre characterisation.

Sofia quickly settles her attentions on Andres (Nuno Lopes) who owns one of the yachts while Naïma tags along and turns, in time, to Andres' sidekick, Philippe. Benoît Magimel plays Philippe, one of the more complex characters, well, but always feels too old to be of much interest to a sixteen-year-old.

Sofia and Andres' relationship is based on the exchange of meaningless sex for expensive presents. There's a retro style to some of the cinematography especially as it lingers sometimes a second of two too long on Sofia's curves and on the couple's antics. It all emphasises the dreamlike feel of the whole movie. Naïma observes the couple with a mixture of distaste and fascination - enough fascination, at least, for her to neglect her Compulsory Gay Friend, Dodo.

About half way through the film, I was reminded of a couple of days from my distant past when my sister and I, naively backpacking around the US, happened upon the lives of a couple superficially similar to Sofia and Andres. But in our short time as his guests, this real guy showed a conflict over his life choices and offered me an alcohol-fuelled, but apparently sincere, apology for the shallowness of his lifestyle.

Sadly, introspection like this was rather lacking from several characters in the movie and that's its major weakness. But for Naïma herself, the story is believable, and for that, it's worth watching. 7/10.

The story revolves around two very different cousins, Naima and Sofia. Sofia, the elder of them, 22 as we learn later, decided to make a living as a good time girl. With her great looks, although much enhanced through surgery, she is very successful in getting in contact with rich, elder men. By accepting expensive presents from them and staying for awhile in their circle until the get bored and find a way to get rid of her, she lives well without a regular work.

This summer of the story she stays with her younger cousin Naima in Cannes where she starts to give Naima little bits of advise how to get around in the world. Naima, only 16 at the time, is rather naive at the beginning, but in the course of the summer, she gets wise to Sofia and starts to see her in a much less admiring light.

Although the title of the film points to Sofia, it is Naima, who is the more interesting character. Sofia already had made her decision how to tackle life, Naima is drawn between the "glamourous" life, which Sofia seems to lead, and normal friendships like Dodo, a young, probably gay, guy who wants to become an actor. And jobs, as her mother, who works as a maid at a very fancy hotel and restaurant, who offers her an internship at the restaurant's kitchen.

Naima is for some time very confused by the sudden mixup with the life of two 40 year old men, one the owner of a yacht, the other his paid companion. While the owner Andrè certainly prefers Sofia and soon has sex with her, the other one, Phillipe, is more respectful towards Naima and figures correctly, that she is still a minor, and keeps his distance.

The whole story is a coming-of-age drama around Naima, who likes her cousin, although she sees things through her, that are shocking.

I didn't know the background of the actress who played Sofia, but I found she looked perfect for the role. Now I know why. As for the young girl who played Naima, she has the more demanding acting role and she handles it very well. Recommendable film!

Know how to make good movies. This wasn't a blockbuster but was very entertaining and the acting was great. For some reason even though I understand little, if any, French, I understood perfectly what was happening throughout the movie. Maybe some American directors and actors should take some time off from their superhero films and go to France and learn how to make real movies.

Strong points:

• Having grown up in the area where this was recorded, I thought it successfully captured the pace of life and the type of people one would find in Cannes

• Pleasant watch, dialogue between the characters flows well and naturally for the most part

• Zahia's acting somehow works. It is quite monotone, although I imagine her casting might have more to do with her reputation than her acting ability. The calmness and seeming detachment of the character creates an air of mystery, an aura of sophistication.

Weaker points:

• The silent, complicit naiveté of Mina Farid works up to a certain degree. There is a point where she begins to express more of a personality (through her exchanges with Philippe) but it does not seem to build up to anything in particular, which I thought was a shame.

• The film is pleasant but uneventful. I wouldn't watch it again but I also wouldn't dissuade anyone from watching it.