Over just 19 minutes, “Invincible Summer”, written by Nicolas Moulin, explores the complexities of the life cycle surrounding us, from the exciting and urgent birth of our sexual identity to its changing face as we age and society slowly treats us as invisible sexual beings. Un invincible été “Invincible Summer” is awaiting a UK release date.
How well do you remember your first sexual experience? Was it messy? Fun? Quick? Disappointing? For the majority of us, we so want our first time having sex to be perfect, but it rarely is. But for those of us who are gay, curious, or bi, it is often complicated; after all, there aren’t as many of us as the media would like you to think, and often, the pool of possible suitors is relatively shallow, especially if you live outside of a major city or town.
Sixteen-year-old Clément (the fantastic Charles Lebrun) is determined to lose his V plates, and a summer night alone at his family home offers him his best chance yet. All he wants is a big, strong and muscular man; it’s not much to ask, is it? But to catch someone on Grindr, he will have to play loose with the truth, particularly concerning his age. In Clément’s mind, he has planned a magical, hot, steamy adventure during an “Invincible Summer”, but the reality is about to play out differently.
Filmed on 16mm, Arnaud Dufeys’ honest, tender and sharp short film plays out as a series of interconnected vignettes that take us from Clément browsing Grindr for the perfect man to him arranging a meet with Naël, a young guy who is eight years older than him and thinks Clément is around the same age. As the story progresses, Dufreys beautifully captures the urgency of Clément’s carnal desire. Here, the use of freeze frames highlights key moments in our brief journey alongside Clément, moments that will create memories that will stay with him long into the future.
However, it is the story running parallel to his urgent need for sex that provides us with the emotional heart of Un invincible été. Clément cares for an ageing neighbour, Angelo, who relies on him for shopping. But when Angelo falls in the bathroom just as things are heating up between Clément and Naël in the pool at his home, the teenager walks away from Naël to respond to Angelo’s emergency call. As he arrives at Angelo’s house, it is the discovery of his neighbour’s frail, naked, ageing male body that halts his rush for sex. Here, Dufreys beautifully captures two critical points in our life cycle: the energy and impatience of youth and the fragility and invisibility of old age.
For Clément, finding Angelo naked and in distress acts as a reminder of just how young he still is and that he has plenty of time to meet the right person rather than rushing into something he may later regret.
Over just 19 minutes, “Invincible Summer”, written by Nicolas Moulin, explores the complexities of the life cycle surrounding us, from the exciting and urgent birth of our sexual identity to its changing face as we age and society slowly treats us as invisible sexual beings. Far from being the hot and steamy summer night Clément expected, the evening is an important awakening that marks his entry into adulthood.
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