Metrograph

News of the imminent death of writer Adrien (François Cluzet) sends shock waves through his Parisian social circle, particularly his best friend, thirtysomething publishing house editor Gabriel (Mathieu Amalric), already worn down to a nub as a result of juggling his affections for ex-girlfriend Jeanne Balibar and kinky new flame Virginie Ledoyen, and soon forced to commiserate with the 16-year-old student (Mia Hansen-Løve) taken by Adrien as his last lover. Unusually sprightly for such a death-haunted film, thanks in large part to its light-footed camerawork and elliptical construction, Late August, Early September is an acute cinematic description of that awkward juncture in life when youth has gone and middle age not quite arrived.

Distributor: Janus Films