Laura, les ombres de l’été (1979)

Directed by: David Hamilton | 95 minutes | drama, eroticism, romance | Actors: Maud Adams, Dawn Dunlap, James Mitchell, Pierre Londiche, Thierry Redler, Maureen Kerwin, Gunilla Astrom, Katia Kofet, Louise Vincent, Bill Millie, Bernard Daillencourt, Michael Pochna, Anja Schüte

The name David Hamilton will awaken disturbing memories in many over forties. Originally a photographer, Hamilton produced five almost identical films in the 1970s and 1980s. Photographed in soft focus, those films sang about the love for girls on the threshold of sexual maturity. Those very young girls were played by very young actresses: timid eyes, stunted breasts and narrow hips. It was those unreachable teenage girls who gave teenage boys sleepless nights in the 1970s.

For those who are not plagued by such memories, viewing ‘Laura, les ombres de l’été’ will not be a great pleasure. The main flaw is the story. The only thing the film revolves around is whether an adult sculptor will succeed in seducing a young woman. All scenes serve this quest. Subplots, philosophical insights, themes, exciting elements, you will not find them here. A lot of naked girls, who take every opportunity to fiddle with each other.

The acting is also mediocre, especially from Dawn Dunlap. The sixteen-year-old looks more like a sleep-deprived Lolita than a lively teenager. The music ranges from irritating to gruesome, with the first referring to a piano tune that is repeated ad nauseam, and the second to the melodic synthesizer sounds that suggest a tension that the film never lives up to. Despite the austere frames, sophisticated tableaux and summery colours, photographer Hamilton does not know how to surprise cinematically. No exciting perspectives or unorthodox compositions, but reassuringly beautiful pictures.

‘Laura, les ombres de l’été’ is remarkable in only one respect. Unintentionally, this film bears witness to changing norms and values. Anyone who had made a film like this at the beginning of the 21st century would have been bombarded with swearing cannonades, hate mail and bullet letters. In an age of rampant internet sex, explicit arthouse sex and nudity that is always functional, a mature desire for immature adolescent bodies is out of the question. Rightly so, of course, but you do wonder why all those other forms of erotica are so undisputed. Raising such questions gives ‘Laura, les ombres de l’été’ just a little raison d’être. That’s no excuse to see this movie though.