Being 17 In the most refreshing picture of his career, 70-year-old veteran French director André Téchiné tells the story of two 17-year-old boys from a small French town. Their turbulent relationship starts with hateful invectives and bullying, but gradually develops into a fragile, intimate bond. The neurotic, detailed, altogether visceral camerawork, complemented by aggressive editing, fantastic work with actors (especially the performances of Kacey Mottet Klein and newcomer Corentin Fila), and the ingenious conceit of setting a naturalistic, intimate drama against the majestic backdrop of the Pyrenees – all this distinguishes Being 17 from the dozens of other gay romances. At the same time, it doesn't pretend to be a male version of Blue Is the Warmest Color. A film as restless and explosive as its protagonists, Being 17 is a celebration of élan vital, that magical time of adolescence, mingling freedom from all cares with constant anxiety, violence with sensuality, and agonizing loss with tender discoveries.