Ava (2017)

Directed by: Lea Mysius | 105 minutes | drama, romance | Actors: Noée Abita, Laure Calamy, Juan Cano, Tamara Cano, Ismaël Capelot, Carmen Gimenez, Mary Lefèvre, Vincent Grouset, Paul Meulins, Mila Cheuzzi, Nolan Dos Santos, Thiméo Méric Guarese, Romain Biderre, Sabrina Gimenez, Sarah Utrera, Stéphane Durieux, Frederic Guerbert

Sun, beach and nice boys. What more could you want as a 13-year-old teenage girl? That is the question posed by the eponymous protagonist from the French drama ‘Ava’. She is on holiday with her sister and her mother, a young, divorced, somewhat childish woman who is looking for the things her daughter is avoiding: fun, love and relaxation. However, Ava has a major problem: a rare eye disease slowly blinds her. That causes a lot of worry, but when one day Ava meets the young Spanish freebooter Juan and his dog, her 13-year-old hormones are running wild.

What happens next, we don’t know, because the meandering story of ‘Ava’ is immediately one of its greatest charms. It takes us to some wonderful places and unusual situations, of which we only reveal a wedding in a trailer park. During those adventures, Ava fully enjoys what Juan embodies: freedom, danger, adventure and sex.

Fortunately, this summer drama was directed by a woman and the lead actress was already 18 when filming. ‘Ava’ has a lot of nude and sex scenes, and that doesn’t always feel easy with a 13-year-old. That 13-year-old is beautifully portrayed by Noée Abita. Even for an adolescent, Ava is one of the grumpiest kinds, but the best moments are when she lowers her shield and reveals a beautiful childlike smile. Or when she says goodbye to Juan for a moment, she turns and waves like a child would. So touching.

The great thing about ‘Ava’ is that it is a very raw film, which at the same time immediately relativizes all the heavy subjects that she broaches. Partly because of the sunny setting, partly because of the humor, it’s a drama that never really gets heavy. At the same time, it has a number of special scenes, such as in the beginning when an older adolescent suddenly transforms into a prophet of doom.

All in all, ‘Ava’ is a successful and original adolescent portrait. All the more handsome when you consider that creator Léa Mysius was only 27 when she directed this. The summer adventures of an almost blind Bonny and her temperamental Clyde are a small treat for now and a big promise for the future.