A Summer Dress

A Summer Dress

Year: 1996

Runtime: 16 mins

Language: French

Director: François Ozon

DramaRomance

It’s summer. Sébastien loves the singer Sheila. Lucia loves boys. As for Frédéric, all he wants to do is work on his tan.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – A Summer Dress (1996)

Trace every key event in A Summer Dress (1996) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Seaside holiday opens with tension

Luc and Sébastien's flamboyant flirting at the rented seaside house irritates Luc, who worries their neighbors might see. He rebukes Sébastien and the argument foreshadows strain in their relationship during the holiday. The scene sets Luc on a quest for solitude away from the couple's dynamics.

Seaside vacation house
2

Luc seeks solitude by cycling to the beach

He rides his bicycle away from the house, hoping to escape the friction indoors. The beach offers a chance for quiet and personal space away from the two men.

Beach
3

Luc goes skinny-dipping and sunbathes

On the shore, Luc finally finds privacy and strips down to swim. After the dip, he lies nude to sunbathe, enjoying a rare moment of personal freedom.

Beach
4

Luc meets Lucia and receives an invitation

Luc encounters Lucia, a Spanish visitor of his age, who flirts and invites him to accompany her into the nearby wood for a tryst. The moment hints at his possible curiosity beyond his current arrangements.

Beach and nearby wood
5

Tryst in the wood and revelation

Luc and Lucia have a sexual encounter; afterward, Lucia learns that Luc is involved with Sébastien and has never been with a woman. She asks if he's gay, and he explains that they are simply friends who sometimes fool around, signaling his uncertainty about his sexuality.

Nearby wood
6

Return to the beach and discovery of missing clothes

The couple returns to the beach to find Luc's clothes have been stolen. The moment creates a practical complication and intensifies the sense of vulnerability. Lucia offers help, and a new layer of dependence forms between them.

Beach
7

Luc borrows Lucia's dress and finds mood lift

Luc is lent Lucia's summer dress so he won't have to walk back naked. Wearing the dress lifts his mood and gives him a playful sense of freedom as they head back.

Beach
8

Return ride with attention to the dress

A car honks at Luc on the ride back, drawing stares as he wears the dress. The ridiculous moment amplifies his newfound lightness after the earlier tension.

Road back
9

Back at the cabin, passion erupts

Back at the cabin, Luc and Sébastien have passionate sex in the kitchen, the torn dress bearing witness to the intensity. Their act underscores the volatile mix of desire and jealousy that marks their relationship.

Cabin kitchen
10

Luc mends the dress and returns it to Lucia

The next day, Luc repairs the summer dress and brings it back to Lucia as she is leaving. Lucia refuses to accept the garment, coyly suggesting it might come in handy in the future. She kisses Luc goodbye, leaving him unsettled and curious.

Beach
11

Luc watches Lucia depart

Luc watches Lucia walk away along the shore, the dress still draped around his neck and fluttering in the sea breeze. The moment lingers with a mix of longing and uncertainty about what comes next.

Beach
12

Closing impression: freedom tinged with ambiguity

The final frame presents Luc alone at the edge of the sea, the dress still visible as the wind catches it. The film closes on a note of ambiguous freedom, hinting at new possibilities while leaving his sexuality and future unresolved.

Beach

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 11:16

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A Summer Dress Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in A Summer Dress

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More About A Summer Dress

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