Summary
Paris, 1952. Memories of the last world war are fresh in people’s minds and
the French military involvement in Indochina is an increasing source of discontent.
This is the Communist’s party’s finest hour in France, attracting even teenagers
to the Stalinist cause. One such teenager is Nadia, who is an active participant
in a Communist cell. However, her idealist principles are put to the test when she
meets and has a love affair with a photographer who works for a glossy magazine…
Review
Despite the unusual political backdrop this film resolves itself into a fairly convention
film of adolescent love and accompanying teenage angst. Strong performances from
the film’s lead actors, Charlotte Valandrey and Lambert Wilson, as the lovers Nadia
and Stephane, give the film its drive and poignancy, whilst some moody photography creates
at least the veneer of a quality production.
The conflict in Nadia’s mind between her Communist beliefs and her desire for self-expression, manifested through her new-found romantic liaison, is handled less convincing that perhaps it might. This surely is the crux of the film: how can you reconcile ideology with frail human emotion? The tension which you are expecting to arise as a result never quite materialises and, inevitably, the film fails to live up to the impression which is offered at the start of the film.
© James Travers 2001
Write a review for this film...
The conflict in Nadia’s mind between her Communist beliefs and her desire for self-expression, manifested through her new-found romantic liaison, is handled less convincing that perhaps it might. This surely is the crux of the film: how can you reconcile ideology with frail human emotion? The tension which you are expecting to arise as a result never quite materialises and, inevitably, the film fails to live up to the impression which is offered at the start of the film.
© James Travers 2001
Write a review for this film...
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Useful links
- Best French films of 2011
- Best French films of the 2000s
- Best of the French New Wave
- Best of French film comedy
- The best 100 French films
- The most successful French films
- Great French filmmakers
Related links
- The best French romantic films
- Other French films of the 1980s
- The best French films of the 1980s
- Other French romantic films
- Biography and films of Véra Belmont
To buy this film
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Credits
- Director: Véra Belmont
- Script: Véra Belmont, Guy Konopnicki, David Milhaud
- Photo: Ramon F. Suarez
- Music: Jean-Marie Sénia
- Cast: Charlotte Valandrey (Nadia), Lambert Wilson (Stéphane), Marthe Keller (Bronka), Laurent Terzieff (Moishe), Laurent Arnal (Roland), Elsa Lunghini (Rosa), Audrey Lazzini (Henriette), Yves Nadot (André), Jodi Pavlis (Marion), Lionel Rocheman (M. Victor)
- Country: France
- Language: French
- Runtime: 112 min
- Aka: Red Kiss
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Drama / Romance






