Goodbye First Love

The story unfolds around Camille’s mountain home in the Ardèche, a rugged, scenic region known for its limestone gorges and tranquil rivers. The countryside provides an intimate backdrop to a youthful romance that feels sunlit and precarious. The plot also touches Marseille, where later chapters bring distance and new opportunities, contrasting the quiet mountains with urban life.

💔 Love and Loss

Camille’s intense first love with Sullivan anchors the film in a heartbreak that explores how early passion can fracture under distance and time. The letters, breakups, and suicide attempt all intensify the sense that love without secure commitment can be devastating. The story probes whether love can endure when partners grow apart or are pulled in different directions. It also shows how loss reshapes a person’s future choices.

🕰️ Time and Memory

Years pass as Camille moves from youth to adulthood, and memories of Sullivan linger despite new relationships. Objects and moments—the mountain hat, the river meeting place—act as tangible anchors for her reminiscence. The film uses time jumps to show how memories influence present decisions and the pain of unresolved love. The conclusion suggests memory can sediment but also drift away like a hat on a river.

🎓 Growing Up and Self-Discovery

Camille’s pursuit of architecture school marks a shift toward independence and self-definition. Her relationship with the older professor Lorenz provides intellectual companionship and stability, contrasting with the volatility of her first romance. She negotiates desire, responsibility, and ambition as she builds a life that no longer hinges on Sullivan. The story ultimately frames growth as a balance between closeness and personal autonomy.