L'Âge d'Or

A lot of work for writer, director, producer and actress Jenna Suru! She is able to strongly share all the passion that went into this project with the spectators. I am curious to see what she will do next!

Set in the spring of 1967, L'Áge d'Or follows Sebastian, a down-on-his-luck producer who travels to Paris and meets Angele ... the woman who will change his life forever. While getting to know her, Sebastion learns that Angele is an actress for a local theater, and soon a partnership forms between the two artists. The film really begins to shine in these opening scenes, where the two walk and talk around the streets of Paris. The characters are framed in several wide tracking shots that not only capture the connection and chemistry between these two actors, but their budding connection to the city itself. The warm, golden tone of the backgrounds they stroll through, create almost an angelic halo effect, looming brightly over their courtship.

As the story progresses, they travel to a small village in the South of France to begin work on what will be their grand opus. A musical combining both of their talents as well as a shared desire to change the world. This village where their relationship grows is Saint-Tropez, and it is quickly made clear that the director has just as much love for this region as she does Paris. The exteriors and landscapes in this area add a subtler beauty than that of the big city, but one that feels more of a home for these characters as their bond is further cemented.

In the end, L'Áge d'Or is a story of two artistic soulmates who try their best to change their world in some small way. But what stayed with me the most, was how the visual splendor of the world around them in both Paris and Saint-Tropez, truly changed them.

Jenna Suru stars in this beautiful movie which she boldly wrote, produced, directed. An incredibly ambitious film with a myriad of magical locations from the historical Notre Dame before its dreadful fire, the LA, and Saint Tropez.

It just looks gorgeous throughout, and captures the zeitgeist of the Sixties era where love and music prevail. The movie has a very French feel with the two lead characters teasing out eachother's thoughts and ambitions, with provoking sequences of dialogue. They are faced with tough choices and torn between ambition and love.

A movie which clearly expresses the joys and freedoms of being an artist, in particular, an actor, and also the constraints and dilemmas of whether it is possible to maintain artistic integrity in the world of show business, and to stay true to yourself and your partner, when the carrot of success is dangled.

To watch The Golden Age is to immerse yourself in a dreamy world, to feel the painful decisions of the characters and to explore the gorgeous locations to a soundtrack from the Sixties. A very unique film, and a triumph for Jenna Suru who radiates charisma on screen in the lead role.

From the moment that the film started I was in awe, gorgeously shot with scenes of the French Riviera I felt like I was transported back to the 1960s!

Amazing attention to detail including the use of old signage and incredible costumes and locations and a story of discovery at its heart, 'L'Age D'or' is a film that I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for heartwarming nostalgia! Bravo

There is something wonderfully laidback about Jenna Suru's love letter to Saint-Tropez, harking back to a simpler time which may or may not be shrouded by nostalgia. In many ways, France of the 1960s is the film's star and love interest, as explored by protagonists Sebastien and Angèle, which both draws (and occasionally divides) their relationship and search for artistic inspiration.

Both Paris and Saint-Tropez provide the perfect 1967 setting: a time when the French Rivera was synonymous with Hollywood glamour and Paris provided the backdrop for countless French and international films. But this never feels exaggerated or overly glamourised and, as with any good cinematic story, the focus lies primarily on its lead characters and their ensuing drama. It is here where the film gets its charm, as we follow Angèle's and Sebastian's journey in their pursuit of their dream theatrical project. Their chemistry growing throughout the film, complimented by its effortless dialogue, always feels fresh and never forced.

As a film, L'Age d'Or is refreshingly competent in its execution without being overly dramatic or succumbing to cliché. As with any pleasant trip, it's an easy-going journey with few distractions outside of its beautiful scenery. After all, who wouldn't want to escape to Saint-Tropez for an hour or two?