Young & Beautiful

Young & Beautiful

Year: 2014

Runtime: 95 min

Language: French

Director: François Ozon

Drama

This poignant drama centers on Isabelle, a seventeen-year-old who begins an unexpected romance during a vacation. As she explores a hidden reality and the boundaries of her innocence, a double life begins to unfold. The film offers a haunting and intimate look at youthful desire, self-discovery, and the challenges of navigating the transition into adulthood.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Young & Beautiful (2014)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Young & Beautiful (2014). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Summer to Spring (Contemporary)

The story unfolds over several seasons, beginning in the summer, a time associated with adventure and youth, and transitioning through autumn and winter, reflecting the complications of adolescence and the harsh realities of life. The contemporary setting allows for a relatable exploration of modern issues facing young individuals.

Location

South of France, Mediterranean Coast

The movie is set in the picturesque South of France along the stunning Mediterranean coast, known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant summer tourism. This region is famous for its luxurious lifestyle and attracts visitors from around the world, making it a backdrop that contrasts with the personal struggles of the characters.

🏖️ Beaches 🏙️ Urban Life

Last Updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:47

Main Characters – Young & Beautiful (2014)

Meet the key characters of Young & Beautiful (2014), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Isabelle / Lea (Marine Vacth)

Isabelle is a 17-year-old girl who embarks on a tumultuous journey of self-discovery through her experiences during a summer vacation. She grapples with her desires and the complications of adult relationships, ultimately leading her to a dangerous lifestyle. As she navigates guilt and loss, she seeks peace and closure.

👧 Young Adult 🚀 Exploration

Georges (Johan Leysen)

Georges is a 63-year-old man who becomes one of Isabelle's clients. His sudden heart attack in a vulnerable moment underscores themes of mortality and regret. His character serves as a pivotal point in Isabelle's life, marking a transition in her journey and forcing her to confront her own feelings.

🧔 Age Difference 💔 Tragedy

Alice (Charlotte Rampling)

Alice is Georges' widow, who seeks out Isabelle after learning about her husband's final moments. Her understanding and compassionate nature offer a nuanced perspective on grief and empathy, highlighting the complexities of love and loss in the face of personal tragedy.

👩‍❤️‍👨 Grief 🌸 Compassion

Sylvie (Géraldine Pailhas)

Sylvie is Isabelle's mother, who experiences a tumultuous emotional journey as she discovers her daughter's activities. Her reaction varies from anger to concern, illustrating the complexities of parental relationships and the challenges of guidance in the modern world.

👩‍👧 Family Dynamics 🔥 Anger

Last Updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:47

Major Themes – Young & Beautiful (2014)

Explore the central themes of Young & Beautiful (2014), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Love & Loss

The theme of love and loss is central to Isabelle's journey as she navigates intimate relationships, including her brief affair with Felix and the complex dynamics of her interactions with older men. The sudden death of Georges adds a layer of tragedy, forcing Isabelle to confront her emotional detachment and guilt.

🌱 Coming of Age

Isabelle's transformation from a naive teenager to a young woman grappling with adult issues embodies the coming-of-age theme. Her experiences push her to explore her sexuality, confront societal expectations, and ultimately seek her own identity beyond the confines of her past choices.

🕵️‍♀️ Consequences

The consequences of Isabelle's decisions manifest throughout the film, particularly in her encounter with Georges and the ensuing investigation. The narrative examines how choices made in moments of curiosity can lead to significant repercussions, affecting both her and her family's lives.

Last Updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:47

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Explore Movie Threads

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.

Quiet and melancholic coming-of-age movies like Young & Beautiful

Intimate explorations of youth marked by melancholy, quiet observation, and self-discovery.If you liked the haunting, intimate mood of Young & Beautiful, explore more movies with a similar slow pace and melancholic tone. These films often focus on the quiet turmoil of adolescence, featuring contemplative stories about self-discovery and the emotional weight of growing up.

melancholicatmosphericcontemplativeintimatehauntingquietunsettling

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a young character, often in a state of emotional isolation, as they navigate a pivotal and sometimes traumatic period in their life. The story unfolds in a linear, character-focused manner, prioritizing psychological depth over complex plotting, and typically leads to a bittersweet or ambiguous resolution that acknowledges both loss and growth.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a specific atmospheric and tonal signature: a quiet, steady pace, a melancholic and reflective tone, and a heavy emotional focus on the protagonist's internal world. They are united by their intimate, often unsettling portrayal of the coming-of-age experience.

Movies about double lives and secrets like Young & Beautiful

Character-driven dramas where a hidden second life leads to profound personal consequences.For viewers who appreciated the theme of a hidden reality in Young & Beautiful, this list features similar dramas exploring secret lives. These stories delve into the psychological tension and emotional fallout of living a lie, often leading to bittersweet or heavy conclusions.

unsettlingintrospectivedramatictensesecretiveemotionalpsychological

Narrative Summary

The central narrative follows a character who constructs and maintains a secret identity or engages in a hidden activity, creating a stark contrast with their public self. The story explores the strain of this duality, culminating in a crisis—such as discovery, trauma, or an internal breaking point—that shatters the double life and forces a painful but necessary journey toward self-awareness.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by the core theme of a double life and its devastating emotional consequences. They share a dramatic tone, a steady pacing that allows for deep character study, and a narrative structure that builds towards a pivotal, life-altering event stemming from the protagonist's secrets.

Unlock the Full Story of Young & Beautiful

Don't stop at just watching — explore Young & Beautiful 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 Young & Beautiful is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Young & Beautiful Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Young & Beautiful, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Young & Beautiful Summary

Young & Beautiful Timeline

Track the full timeline of Young & Beautiful with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Young & Beautiful Timeline

Young & Beautiful Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Young & Beautiful 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.

Young & Beautiful Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Young & Beautiful

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Young & Beautiful: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Young & Beautiful

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Discover movies like Young & Beautiful that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.