I’m not going to get into the mess that is currently inflicting film festivals, with COVID-19 forcing many to go fully digital. However, there have been a few films building positive buzz over these last few weeks, primarily among them is Suzanne Lindon’s “Spring Blossom.”
The film’s risque story concerns a 16-year-old girl, Suzanne, bored with her life, family, and friends. That’s when this outcast meets an older man at a theater, and she immediately becomes smitten by him. Where this relationship goes, the film’s just-released trailer refuses to divulge, but it could very well be sexual.
“Spring Blossom” was one of the 56 films that were selected by the Cannes Film Festival in its list of standout features this year. In addition, it was announced yesterday that Lindon’s film will play amongst the 50 films selected to show at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. “Spring Blossom” was one of four Cannes-selected films announced by TIFF, with probably more to come in the coming weeks.
Lindon is a first-time director, she wrote the screenplay and also stars as the lead here. She’s joined by Arnaud Valois, Frédéric Pierrot, and Florence Viala in the cast.
The film grossed only $205M against a $150M budget, losing Paramount a significant amount of money. It did, however, gain a decent following on streaming, but the financial risk for a sequel is ever-present.