Time: 100 Minutes
Age Rating: R16 – Sex scenes & sexual references
Cast:
Joseph Engel as Bastien
Sara Montpetit as Chloé
Monia Chokri as Violette
Karine Gonthier-Hyndman as Louise
Director: Charlotte Le Bon

I went into Falcon Lake basically blind, not knowing anything about it beforehand except that it was something of a coming of age movie. It ended up being really good.

With it being a coming of age story, it covers some familiar aspects, awkwardness of growing up, young love, and complicated feelings like jealousy and longing. What separates Falcon Lake from other films in the genre is the way it relies on the tone and atmosphere. From the beginning there are some haunting and eerie undertones as well as a bit of a melancholic feel. It definitely takes its time with its steady pacing and while I was on board with the story and characters, but by the end I didn’t feel like there was much substance to it. Some people will certainly have thoughts about the ending, and it could make it better or worse for you. I felt like the lead up to it made things fairly obvious, but the ending itself was well filmed and executed.

The acting is fantastic, mainly from Joseph Engel and Sara Montpetit, and I’d say that it is worth watching the movie for their performances alone.

Charlotte Le Bon’s direction is strong. There’s a good atmosphere with gothic vibes throughout, and the cinematography is beautiful.

Falcon Lake is a haunting and tender coming of age, greatly directed and incredibly acted.