Bonjour Tristesse (Chew-Bose, 2024)

Sunshine, romance, and complex female relationships

Bonjour Tristesse is a beautifully layered coming-of-age story based on Françoise Sagan’s 1954 novel.

Set against the glowing beauty of the French Riviera, Bonjour Tristesse pulls us into a dreamy summer shared between seventeen-year-old Cécile (Lily McInerny) and her charming father, Raymond (Claes Bang), as they spend their days lounging in the sun and their nights enjoying the good life with Elsa (Naïlia Harzoune), Raymond’s girlfriend. Everything changes with the arrival of Anne (Chloë Sevigny), an old friend of Cécile’s late mother. She’s poised, elegant, and completely unlike anyone in their world. Her presence disrupts the laid-back rhythm of their idyllic holiday, and what begins as a carefree summer quickly turns into something more tense, emotional, and quietly heartbreaking.

Directed by Durga Chew-Bose in her feature film debut, Bonjour Tristesse is a beautifully layered coming-of-age story based on Françoise Sagan’s 1954 novel (the third adaptation after Bonjour Tristesse (1958) et Bonjour Tristesse (1995)). Chew-Bose brings a soft, thoughtful touch to the material, focusing on the little things—the silences, stolen glances, and moments where feelings shift beneath the surface. It’s a slow burn in the best possible way: delicate, moody, and emotionally rich.

Honestly, this might be one of the most visually stunning movies I’ve seen in a long time. The lighting, the colors, the way the camera lingers—every frame looks like it could be a painting. The scenery is gorgeous, making you want to book a trip immediately (I spent days daydreaming about driving a convertible to Felicità in the south of France).

But what truly stands out is how the film explores the complicated relationships between women—how they clash, connect, and mirror each other. The tension between Cécile and Anne is electric, and Chloë Sevigny’s performance is incredible—haunting, even. Lily McInerny, too, is fantastic, capturing that in-between stage of being young and curious, yet also reckless and unsure.

Bonjour Tristesse may not be for everyone, but it’s absolutely for fans of slow, atmospheric films that let you sink into the world and its characters. It’s about how hard it is to grow up, how messy emotions can be, and how one summer can change everything. It doesn’t shout to make its point—it whispers, and that’s what makes it so powerful.

Bonjour Tristesse is now playing in theatres.

Photos : Entract Films