La Gradiva

It’s a hot summer below Vesuvius. A group of French students have set off on their last school trip before they go their separate ways. The Classical ruins, the petrified bodies of Pompeii’s ancient inhabitants and the elegant Roman statues provide the setting for seemingly banal coming-of-age dramas – squabbles, summer romances, ill-concealed rivalries, and unspoken desires. On the edge of the fabled volcano we witness the low-key yet increasingly powerful eruptions of those who came to learn something about history and also about themselves. This masterfully constructed directorial debut from cinematographer Marine Atlan goes deeper than the majority of films about adolescence. A film of subtle intensity, subliminal tension and profound catharsis.