Year: 1996
Runtime: 16 mins
Language: French
Director: François Ozon
It’s summer. Sébastien loves the singer Sheila. Lucia loves boys. As for Frédéric, all he wants to do is work on his tan.
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Luc spends his holiday by the sea with his slightly older and decidedly more flamboyant boyfriend, Sébastien. At the house they have rented, Sébastien’s flamboyant dancing and preening frustrates Luc, who rebukes him that the neighbors might see. Irritated, Luc goes off on his bicycle to the beach, hoping to find some solitude.
On the beach, Luc is finally alone and goes skinny dipping. Afterwards, he sunbathes in the nude and meets Lucia (Lucia Sánchez), a Spanish tourist about his age, who, after some flirtatious conversation, invites Luc to accompany her into the nearby wood for a tryst. Luc, though somewhat bashful, obliges with little hesitation. After having sex, Lucia learns that Luc is erotically involved with Sébastien and has never been with a woman before. She asks if he’s gay, and he replies no, he and Sébastien are just friends who sometimes fool around, implying that he’s unsure of his sexuality.
The two return to the beach to find that Luc’s clothes have been stolen. Lucia lends Luc her summer dress so that he won’t have to return home completely naked. Wearing a woman’s dress improves Luc’s mood as a car honks its horn after him on the ride back. He returns to the cabin with a smile and a renewed sense of freedom. Luc surprises Sébastien when he comes in. After a few amused remarks about the dress (Luc flirtatiously refers to himself as a “beautiful girl”), the two have passionate sex in the kitchen. The dress is partially torn in the act.
The next day, Luc mends the summer dress and brings it back to Lucia, who is just leaving. However, she refuses to accept it, coyly suggesting that it may come in handy in the future. She kisses Luc goodbye. The final frame shows Luc watching her leave, the dress wrapped around his neck and fluttering in the sea breeze.
Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 11:16
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories where a sun-soaked vacation becomes a catalyst for personal transformation.If you liked the gentle, transformative vibe of A Summer Dress, explore more movies where a summer vacation leads to personal awakening. These films share a sun-soaked, dreamy atmosphere and focus on characters finding themselves through romance, idleness, and moments of sensual liberation.
A character, often feeling constrained by their daily life, escapes to a summer locale. Freed from routine, they engage in new relationships or experiences that challenge their self-perception. The narrative unfolds at a leisurely pace, building towards a quiet but significant emotional climax that results in a newfound sense of freedom or clarity about their path.
These films are grouped by their shared reliance on the summer season as a transformative force. They blend a hopeful, sensual mood with a steady, contemplative pacing, focusing on the internal journey of a protagonist rather than external plot mechanics. The emotional weight is typically medium, balancing significant personal change with an overall light, liberating feel.
Character-driven dramas about quiet, personal revolutions of the heart and self.Fans of A Summer Dress's thoughtful exploration of sexuality will appreciate these other character-driven dramas. They share a medium emotional weight, a hopeful tone, and a straightforward narrative focused on the quiet, transformative journey of self-discovery and acceptance.
The narrative follows a protagonist as they grapple with questions about their identity, often triggered by a new relationship or environment. The conflict is primarily internal, with the story unfolding through intimate conversations and moments of introspection. The arc leads to a resolution that feels earned and positive, emphasizing personal freedom and acceptance over societal judgment.
These movies are connected by their central theme of sexual or identity exploration handled with gentleness and hope. They share a medium intensity and emotional weight, avoiding graphic or traumatic depictions in favor of a character-centric, steady-paced approach. The endings are typically happy or hopeful, reinforcing the message of liberation.
Don't stop at just watching — explore A Summer Dress in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what A Summer Dress is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of A Summer Dress with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape A Summer Dress. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of A Summer Dress that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about A Summer Dress: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
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