A common issue with coming-of-age films is the lack of realism. Typically, these films are written and directed by folks that are well past the age that is depicted on screen. Obviously, in some cases, this isn’t a big deal, but in others, the dialogue can come off a bit cringy. Well, in a very rare example, “Spring Blossom” seems to sidestep this issue by the fact that it was written and directed by a teenager.
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“Spring Blossom” tells the story of Suzanne, a 16-year-old French girl that is bored with the people in her age bracket. And because of this, she finds herself drawn to an older man. The unlikely duo sparks a strong connection that forces Suzanne to ditch her childhood a bit quicker than she was probably anticipating.
The film stars Suzanne Lindon in the lead role. She’s also the writer and director of the project. As mentioned, she wrote this feature when she was 15-years-old and directed it at only 19. So, as you can probably imagine, the success of the film relies almost entirely on her accomplishments. And according to the slew of reviews that came out of last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, Lindon has succeeded, with “Spring Blossom” currently sitting at a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Spring Blossom” debuts in the US in New York City and Los Angeles on May 21. You can watch the trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
Suzanne (Suzanne Lindon) is sixteen. She is bored with people her own age. From the outside, everything appears lovely in her charmed world, but the everyday monotony of school and her relationships with friends and family feels completely uninspired. Every day on her way to high school, she passes a theater. There, she meets a 35-year-old actor named Raphaël (Arnaud Valois, BPM (Beats Per Minute )). Despite their age difference they find in each other an answer to their ennui and develop a strong connection. Immersed in the world of grown-ups and adult choices, Suzanne begins questioning the pitfalls of blossoming too quickly and missing out on life – the life of a 16-year-old, which she had struggled so much to enjoy in the same way as her peers.