Being 17

Name: Being 17
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: October 7, 2016
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 83

2016

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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Being 17

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Movie Details & Credits

Strand Releasing | Release Date: October 7, 2016 | Not Rated

Summary: Damien and Thomas are French teenagers from very different upbringings who go to the same high school but can’t stand each other. When circumstances bring Damien’s mother Marianne (Sandrine Kiberlain) to invite Thomas to live with them, the young men are forced to coexist and work through their emerging attraction and complicated desires.

Director: André Téchiné

Genre(s): Drama, Romance

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 116 min

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Critic Reviews

100

David Rooney

Aug 15, 2016

An ultra-naturalistic slice of rocky adolescent life that combines violence and sensuality, wrenching loss and tender discovery. Read full review

Jonathan Romney

Aug 15, 2016

Co-scripted by Céline Sciamma, director of Water Lilies and Girlhood, Being 17 manifestly benefits from her insight into the problems of young people searching for their social and sexual identities; this, combined with Téchiné’s controlled vision and superb direction of actors, makes the new film a quietly potent proposition. Read full review

Justin Chang

Oct 13, 2016

If the film has a governing principle, it’s that love doesn’t take root in a vacuum, and its path is never perfectly straight. Read full review

Diego Semerene

Oct 2, 2016

André Téchiné does justice to the closeness between repulsion and desire, difference and sameness, heterosexuality and homosexuality. Read full review

Harriet Warman

Aug 15, 2016

Being 17's great strength is the two utterly engrossing performances given by its leads and their exhilarating chemistry is conveyed with equal sensitivity during their tussles, as it is in every small glance and gesture. Read full review

IndieWire David Ehrlich

Oct 6, 2016

The film’s hyper-naturalism is its raison d’etre, and Being 17 is at its best when it leans into that approach. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Oct 27, 2016

The result is a beautiful void, a structureless emptiness buoyed by some good scenes and performances. Read full review

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User Reviews

sanyrub

Feb 19, 2017

Beautiful, simple, complex, tender, nice, realistic, sensual, cute, emotive, warm, gorgeous... all these adjectives and many more can perfectly be used to describe this French film that gives us what the best French films have to offer: human nature and believable stories. The two youndBeautiful, simple, complex, tender, nice, realistic, sensual, cute, emotive, warm, gorgeous... all these adjectives and many more can perfectly be used to describe this French film that gives us what the best French films have to offer: human nature and believable stories. The two yound actors eat their respective roles and show great solo scenes and also beautiful chemistry. All this thanks to the director too, well trained in actors direction from past adventures. Must watch for any type of audience. You won´t regret it. Will make you feel happy.… Expand

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LeZee

Sep 3, 2017

Rivalry, that's where sometimes it all begins.

I don't know why this film has not been watched by many. This is a good film, a good French gay film. Like many reviewers had already mentioned, this is not your typical gay theme. It would have been better if you had tried it without knowingRivalry, that's where sometimes it all begins.

I don't know why this film has not been watched by many. This is a good film, a good French gay film. Like many reviewers had already mentioned, this is not your typical gay theme. It would have been better if you had tried it without knowing what kind of story is this. Anyway, I mentioned it, but it is not a spoiler if you thought so. It would have landed at you in one way or the other while learning about the film.

It was more a drama than the romance. But everything has to have a nicer initiation. So, that's how the film characters take the shape. Only those important characters like the main two and another 2-3 were the all focus. The narration clearly ignores everything else to put the story straight, despite it was not about the straight guys.

The tale was told from the perspective of Damien, a new boy moved into the small foothill town with his doctor mother and while his father serving in the army in an away tour. Sometimes, the perspective takes neural to accomplish the other aspect of the story. An unexpected rivalry begins between Damien and his classmate, Thomas, a loner who lives up in the hills in a farmland.

As the film progresses, their fight intensifies. But there comes a time to compromise when the developments around them forces them to do so. It's the turning point for them, yet they're not in the mood to shake hands. You could say what comes henceforth, but that's where you might go wrong. This tale breaks the stereotypes and brings a fresh perspective on homosexuality. Although not fully unpredictable narration.

❝I don't know if I'm into guys or just you.❞

Besides, the places where the film shot was magnificent. Takes place in different seasons, and each time the story well exploited the region to blend with the emotions, fierce and other moods in the drama. The two boys were good. Because of the type of their role, the film looks slow in some parts. But overall gets better with its upcoming scene.

The first two acts were nothing but the boys and their struggle to get over with their conflict. More like the random acts of normal reaction to such incidents. Only if it had tough guys on both the ends. But where it all leads were well planned that you may slightly disappoint with it. Like I was aware of a couple of things from the story, and it indeed that's how it turned out at the latter part. Otherwise, there's no complaint about it.

Despite I enjoyed watching it, not the film that I wanted. I blame my anticipation for having such opinion. I was looking for more and more things to happen, whereas the narration was riding in the simplest manner. Especially the last half an hour brought the best out of it. Yeah, you could say it ended strongly and probably a turning point for the audience to change their stance if they were not happy so far.

Firstly, it is worth watching for being a different for such concept, and that's because of the writing. Secondly the cinematography, direction, including the actors made it a better flick. But personally I was not happy about failing to come to the point in the early section. It recovered, almost at very late. And then it ended better. But still I agree it was a perfect portrayal of the older teenagers and their confusing sexuality. The contents were realistic while the film stayed true to cinematic. I hope people watch it with low expectation and patience.

7/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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