On a trip south, the paths of Sam, Léa and Mathieu cross – three young people searching for themselves. Sam remains silent and carries a burden from the past, the lively Léa brings a sense of ease to the group, while her brother Mathieu feels increasingly drawn to Sam. But the journey is more than just a simple road trip: old wounds are reopened, repressed memories come to light, and being on the road becomes an emotional balancing act between closeness and distance. With impressive images of the summery landscape of southern France and precise character drawings, the film creates a dense atmosphere full of melancholy and unexpected intimacy. With sensitive restraint and psychological depth, Sébastien Lifshitz tells a story of questions of identity, unspoken feelings and the difficulty of coming to terms with one's own past. The fragmentary narrative style, supplemented by flashbacks, gives the film an additional emotional layer and makes the inner turmoil of the characters tangible. GOING SOUTH celebrated its premiere at the 2010 Berlinale in the Panorama section and was praised for its finely nuanced narrative style and aesthetically powerful staging. Léa Seydoux, who later celebrated international success, is particularly impressive with her charismatic presence. The road movie combines sensual images with a subtle reflection on personal freedom, suppressed traumas and the difficulty of finding one's place in life. Léa Seydoux in one of her early roles, before her big Hollywood breakthrough.
Drama, Romance
1h 30min
16 FSK
FR
DE
EN
In front of an impressive western backdrop, Sébastien Lifshitz tells the story of a summer full of emotions in a documentary style.
On a trip south, the paths of Sam, Léa and Mathieu cross – three young people searching for themselves. Sam remains silent and carries a burden from the past, the lively Léa brings a sense of ease to the group, while her brother Mathieu feels increasingly drawn to Sam. But the journey is more than just a simple road trip: old wounds are reopened, repressed memories come to light, and being on the road becomes an emotional balancing act between closeness and distance.
With impressive images of the summery landscape of southern France and precise character drawings, the film creates a dense atmosphere full of melancholy and unexpected intimacy. With sensitive restraint and psychological depth, Sébastien Lifshitz tells a story of questions of identity, unspoken feelings and the difficulty of coming to terms with one's own past. The fragmentary narrative style, supplemented by flashbacks, gives the film an additional emotional layer and makes the inner turmoil of the characters tangible.
GOING SOUTH celebrated its premiere at the 2010 Berlinale in the Panorama section and was praised for its finely nuanced narrative style and aesthetically powerful staging. Léa Seydoux, who later celebrated international success, is particularly impressive with her charismatic presence. The road movie combines sensual images with a subtle reflection on personal freedom, suppressed traumas and the difficulty of finding one's place in life.
Léa Seydoux in one of her early roles, before her big Hollywood breakthrough.