OJT Without being a driven action movie, this is an everyday story-film made interesting, without getting any of the answers. It's well done, the film work and photography, and there's a lingering underneath which makes you follow trough. If you're not searching for an action flick, that is.Young man Sam is still traumatized and maybe a tiny bit suicidal after seeing his father committing suicide while he was watching, struggling with his mother going insane as a result of her husbands death, following a row in their car. More than 15 years later Sam goes down south, to try to find his mother, together with some friends, without telling them what he's up to. On the way we since some affection between some of the four of them, a girl which has become pregnant and her brother, and another friend they pick up.It's a pleasant summery tale, where we are offered no solution or even a climax. We just almost there. I find that this makes the film interesting. More like real life. It's one of those films making you think, and remembering some of your own summer memories along life's rich pageant. Some might get disappointed by not getting the solutions, and an exact happy ending, but I find liking films which don't give all the answers, but leaves some to each and one of us, and our imagination.I haven't seen any other work of Director Sebastien Lifshitz, and when I realize this is the film of his that has the lowest score, I can't expect him to be nothing less than an interesting director. I'm sure to be on the look for more from his hands. Can't decide if this is a 6 or a 7 out of 10, and then I tend to go down. Still, it's worth watching if you like a story which doesn't give it all away.

jotix100 As this story begins, we see Lea, a young woman, being examined by her gynecologist, she is pregnant. Her examination, evidently, does not surprise her. Together with her brother, Jeremie, they decide to hitch a ride to one of the Southern beaches. Meeting Sam, who is going South, they find a convivial young man who will help them get there.Sam makes a stop to see his younger brother, something that triggers in him a kind of sadness and despair about an incident he witnessed at a an impressionable age, seeing his father taking his own life while sitting in a car next to his mother. We never learn about the cause of such action as the creator of the film does not care to elaborate on the subject, which is obviously a painful scar in Sam's psyche. Sam, who is evidently gay, likes Jeremie, who obviously cares for him as well. Lea is out of the picture until the trio meet a young man, Mathieu, who picks up the undercurrent he feels is happening between his two companions. Lea, who likes Mathieu begins a romance with the young man among the everything goes among the young crowd at the beach.The mood changes as Sam takes a trip to see his own mother. She has been living in another part of the country. This woman suffered a traumatic shock being next to her husband when he decided to take his life sitting next to her. Sam, obviously older now, comes in to her new life, never expecting she has a man in her life who, for all appearances care about her that is evident. Sam, in a way, feels betrayed.Director Sebastien Lifshitz, whose "Come Undone", and "Wild Side", has done much better before. This effort feels empty in that nothing really is resolved in the issues Mr. Lifshitz and his co-writers, Vincent Poymiro and Stephan Bouquet present to their audience. It is an ambitious project, paling in comparison to the films that came before. The creators seem to be influenced by great French directors of the past, mainly Erich Rommer and Francois Truffaut, without the clear vision of the original models.Yannick Renier is an enigma as the adult Sam. It is clearly he is attracted to Jeremie, but his own trauma gets in his way. His relationship with his mother is also puzzling. Seeing her happy at last, he cannot express anything to her that will bring peace to the way he feels about her, almost making her guilty for what his father decided to do with his life. Nicole Garcia has nothing to do in the film as the mother. Lea Seydoux is another character that is not well developed in the story. Theo Frilet and Pierre Perrier complete appear as Mathieu and Jeremie, respectively. One can only wish Mr. Lifshitz success in his new projects.

graham clarke I would have to agree with the reviewer who judged "Plen Sud" as regressive as far as the work of director Sebastian Lifshitz goes. "The Wild Side" was a fine film and "Presque Rien" simply outstanding."Plein Sud" has the feeling of a director out of control and worse a director devoid of vision. The film ambles, has unnecessary musical interludes and is imbued with an off putting vagueness of intention.Where the film fails most is the lack of chemistry between the players especially between the Yannick Renier and Theo Frilet characters. Liftshitz's previous films abounded with a sense of genuine feeling between the characters. Remove that from a film and not much remains.There are shots on the beach which are replicas from "Presque Rien" - and in my book that is not a good sign.There are films which exude a sense of everything going right - sadly, "Plein Sud" is the flip side.

arizona-philm-phan .......despite a "seemingly" happy-go-lucky Quartet of early to mid-20s Guys + a Gal heading South to carefree, sunny ocean shores. (BUT, wait....there's plenty of darkness ahead, and let's just say it starts with a bang).(( A HURT SO LARGE....SO DEEP.......you close yourself off.....nearly close yourself down ))Here's my "Brief-Take" on this 2009 production from France (only slight spoilers included): The main plot line of this story stems from an horrific, early childhood, traumatic event.....one which we learn of early on in the film.Added to what you were just told, this tale also gives us: Mental illness....family breakup....out of wedlock pregnancy....suicide....absence of parental love....and a killer Glock----you name it and it's probably here.It takes a little viewing time to realize that this story is, intrinsically, about only one of our Quartet: And Yannick Renier, as darkly brooding and angst ridden Sam works wonders with the part----this is his movie (I'm looking for more of his DVD work). Still, Nicole Garcia, as "Mom" really shines in her small role, particularly at this work's conclusion. This pair's end of film scene together wrenches us, as they talk of their past relationship: deep unhappiness having pervaded it. Yet.....we come to perceive there seems the barest hope of a turnaround----something that is the only thing that might save either one of them.Sex scenes, you're wondering? (thought you'd never ask). Both a heterosexual one, as well as a long-time-getting-there love on the beach tumble between Renier's character and another Quartet member, well played by **Theo Frilet. Though dimly lit, this is still an excitingly amorous scene.Finally, a look at the Closing we're given----a waterside scene which, perhaps, becomes an attempt to wash away years of sadness, disappointment and unhappiness.PS--There is a "Moral" to this tale.....and it's simply: Don't always follow in Dad's Footsteps---or Mom's, either, for that matter.I will be keeping this in my DVD library for every so often rewatching.....but for those of you looking for more "gay content," perhaps a video rental will do.**(for you watchers of small, gay films, you may remember him from 2006's "A Summer Day").