Spring Blossom (French: Seize printemps) is a 2020 French drama film directed by Suzanne Lindon.[2] The film stars Lindon as Suzanne, a teenage girl who is disenchanted with her peer group, and develops a relationship with Raphaël (Arnaud Valois), an older actor she meets outside a theatre.[2]
The screenplay for Spring Blossom was written by Suzanne Lindon (who is also its director) at the age of 15.[7] The director cast herself in the film at the age of 20.[8]
Reception
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 93% based on 45 critics, with an average rating of 6.6/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "An enchanting debut for writer-director-star Suzanne Lindon, Spring Blossom captures first love with fittingly delicate beauty."[9]
Katie Walsh of the Los Angeles Times wrote "Such a confident and self-assured debut would be remarkable for a filmmaker of any age, as Spring Blossom is a finely wrought, sensitively felt and artistically bold work".[10]
Jake Cole of Slant Magazine praised the director and her debut film for "[painting] a concise and truthful portrait of her protagonist's feelings of estrangement",[11] while Tim Robey of The Daily Telegraph called it "tender, amiable and sweetly played".[12]
Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter called Spring Blossom as "Provocative and original, if a bit slight".[13]
According to Steve Rose of The Guardian, "[the film] is a fleeting affair in every sense".[14]
The international press was also positive in regard to the film's premise and release. Writing for The Indian Express, a daily newspaper in India, Shubhra Gupta said "The connection between [Suzanne Lindon and Arnaud Valois] is tenuous, but tangible: you get the feeling that it may not last too long, as teenage passions are wont to, but it may leave a stamp on both. In spring, things blossom".[15]
References
^"Seize printemps". Film Francophone d'Angouleme. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
