Après mai

Olivier Assayas's film 'Something in the Air' is an affectionate, although not uncritical, look at the lives of young French radicals after 1968. Watching it, you get an interesting sense of an era when students were interested in something other than building their careers (although the protagonists don't all completely abandon their bourgeois dreams); there's also the contrast between their profound political beliefs, and the feeling that their beloved freedom is basically the freedom of being young and moneyed - the revolution as a gap year, so to speak. The way that a life spent chasing experience ultimately does not build the foundation of lasting relationships is also well-conveyed. Overall, the cast are a little too beautiful - who wouldn't be a revolutionary when the benefits were so obvious? - and if the film has a serious weak-point, it's in not fully explaining quite why youth was drawn to the counter-culture except in a vague, spirit-of-the-age type way. A final quibble - the English translation of the French title (Apres Mai) is an awful one, better befitting a light romantic comedy.

Just watched the movie yesterday, and for those who are interested in the high school movement of France in the early '70s and expect the movie to have a say about the topic, it would be a disappointment. Therefore, alter your expectations towards an autobiography of a young artist who is in pursuit of love, his ideals and independence.

The opening of the movie is promising with protests, group of students clashing ideas and then acting based on those ideas. You can actually sense that there is something in the air which is obviously the belief in the revolution. Yet later, it seems quite undecided whether to focus on the aspect of revolutionary ideas or on the personal lives and thoughts of the characters. Both topics can be processed in a movie, however in this one both aspects seems inconclusive.

Also what I see missing in the movie is that all young revolutionaries were not faced a tough life or living a life that is rather comfortable. They want to change things but it seems they are not sure what they want to change or how bad things are for the working class. I am not expecting a person of that age to be fully aware of the situation but I wondered how would they react in a desperate situation. They do not look unhappy with their life.

If I had watched the movie with different expectations, I would have enjoyed it more. It is still likable but not satisfying.

Gilles is an interesting character, a political activist studying to be an artist. But it's frustrating that beyond his political beliefs we get to know little about him. Conversations are short. What do any of the people feel? There are a lot of opinions and judgments made about society, authority, each other - usual for French films. But left me unsatisfied. Warning: Ironically, be prepared to meet many dissatisfied people, even majorly unhappy ones, during the course of this film. Wonderful evocation of times ('70s) and attention to detail though.

It's a fascinating period, late 60s France from the perspective of the student movement.

The violence of the police, the underground press, the graffiti, protests, the connection and disagreements with the other socialist groups, the independent cinema collectives.

With the backdrop of the music and art of that era.

What this film is really about though is wanting to support a cause but also trying to decide upon your own future. I think they pull this off well by following the characters individually rather than just when they are a group.

It's beautifully shot and in some very picturesque locations.

I think it is a very good film.

There's revolution on the mind in Something in the Air, as we watch a group of young idealists rage against the injustices in the world whilst also trying to figure out their own lives. Set in the early 1970s, this film looks and sounds the part, with a beautiful washed-out colour palette matched by a cracking soundtrack.

The storyline of Something in the Air feels a little uneven as it lurches between revolutionary activities and the human drama of the characters, however there's an underlying warmth to this film that makes it an enjoyable watch. The characters feel real, to the extent that this feels like just a snapshot of their lives, and that they lived before and after the small period we spend with them.

This isn't a flawless film. I would've liked to have spent a bit more time with some of the characters, getting to know their motivations deeper. However, provided you don't find the politics off-putting it's a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.