Mes petites amoureuses
Director: Jean Eustache
Year Released: 1974
Rating: 2.0
Episodic coming-of-age film (which may or may not be semi-autobiographical) focusing mainly on a boy's 'sexual awakening' and attraction to girls - it also shows his misery at being forced to leave school and get a job because of his hapless, unsupportive mother (Ingrid Caven). Unlike the best of the genre (I'm thinking mainly of the films of François Truffaut) this is rigid and humorless, with the largely non-professional actors skulking around and going through the paces. Still, there are a few moments of bliss, like when twig-like lead Martin Loeb sneaks a kiss from a girl sitting in front of him while they're watching an Ava Gardner movie - it's probably his most 'successful' moment in the film, and one worth cheering.
