Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Charlie, a 17-year-old girl tortured by doubt, is thrilled when she becomes friends with Sarah, but when Sarah tires of Charlie and looks for a new friend, their relationship takes an ominous turn.
Breathe (2014) is a modest French coming-of-age drama directed by Mélanie Laurent. The plot explores a toxic teenage friendship with some psychological intensity, but the territory is reasonably well-trodden. The performances, particularly from the two leads, carry the film and elevate the material above average. Cinematography is functional but unremarkable. The film offers little that feels genuinely distinctive in its conception or visual language, making it feel derivative of similar French adolescent dramas. The ending provides some dramatic payoff but may feel abrupt or unsatisfying to some viewers.