Peppermint Soda

In September 1963, Anne and Frédérique spend the summer holidays with their father on the coast. They enjoy a seaside break before returning to Paris to begin the new school year, marking a shift from family time to city life. The trip sets the scene for a year of tensions between adolescence and growing independence.

They return to Paris to live with their mother for the school year. The routine changes from the beach to an urban, more regimented life at a strict school environment. This marks the start of a new chapter in their family dynamics.

At Lycée Jules-Ferry, Anne is introverted and underachieving, and a teacher mocks her drawing during art class. The incident highlights her insecurity and desire to fit in. The moment foreshadows her challenge to express herself at school.

Anne resents not having stockings and longs to fit in with her peers. She pretends she has menstrual cramps to feel older and to cope with growing up. The episode underscores her anxious push toward womanhood.

Anne and her friends discuss what they know about sex, revealing how little they understand of the subject. They use humor to navigate awkward questions and boundaries. The scene captures the awkwardness of adolescence in a strict environment.

Anne sneaks a look at the letters between Frédérique and her boyfriend Marc and then fabricates a version for her classmates, claiming Marc is her boyfriend. The lie fuels playground rivalries and aspirations for social status. The moment tests the sisters' boundaries and honesty.

Frédérique begins to care more about the Algerian War and her Jewish identity, pulling away from some friends. Her activism creates tension with her affluent friend Perrine. The shift marks a new, more political direction in her life.

Frédérique befriends Pascale, who offers a stark account of a peaceful protest violently broken up by police. The tale exposes the reality of political demonstrations and state power. The story leaves a lasting impression on Frédérique and her peers.

Another classmate, Muriel, runs away from home and rumors swirl about where she might be. The atmosphere among the girls becomes tense as they speculate about each other’s lives. Muriel's disappearance unsettles the group and heightens the sense of insecurity at school.

During a visit to Muriel's worried father, the older man makes a pass at Frédérique, creating an uneasy power dynamic. The incident adds to the adults' missteps and the girls' growing awareness of adult complexities. It deepens the tension within the circle of friends.

Muriel returns briefly, revealing that she has dropped out of school and now lives with a boyfriend on a farm. The revelation shocks the group and alters their perception of their friends' choices. It also highlights the reach of upheavals outside the classroom.

Frédérique becomes involved in a school play and shines on opening night. Her father attends the performance, but he does not stay afterwards to congratulate her. The moment illustrates parental distance and the ache of seeking recognition.

Some time after the play, the girls return to their father's home at the beach for the summer. The routine of seaside life provides a final shift before the cycle restarts. The return to the coast ends the school year in the narrative.