Belle Épine

Neither sentimentality nor nostalgia for reckless years gone by can be found in Rebecca Zlotowski's Belle Epine, which makes its tale of teenage rebellion in the face of overwhelming grief fall closer to a sobering character study than a classical youth film.

Ultimately, Zlotowski’s girl gone wild narrative is a bumpy ride. Some scenes are understated and gripping, but others fall flat as they revolve around little more than a teenager sulking.

Unfolding with the disjointed logic of a bad dream, the pic never catches emotional fire — though not for lack of trying by fast-rising young star Lea Seydoux, who shows her range in a defiantly unglamorous performance.