Friends

An orphaned 14 year-old (Anicée Alvina) arrives at her cousin's (Pascale Roberts) home in Paris having travelled from the South of France. Feeling alone, she soon meets a 15 year-old English boy (Sean Berg) who lives with neglectful businessman father (Ronald Lewis). They impulsively decide to run off to the South of France together and move in to her deceased father's cottage on the Carmargue near Arles where they grow up, fall in love and struggle to survive.

One thing is for sure is that this is a film that would not be made today, with the sexual attraction and the way it is depicted by director Lewis Gilbert that will be perceived as both natural and uncomfortable, with an almost disquieting voyeuristic handling of the relationship. For all this is it is a very charming and tender film with the beautiful landscapes of the Carmargue gorgeously shot by Andréas Winding and a sweet score by Elton John. Followed by a sequel: PAUL AND MICHELLE (1974).