Ketelhuis Expat
As a girl from a Catholic family in rural France, Annie wants to break free from her familiar surroundings. She takes a job as a counselor at a summer camp, determined to gain new experiences and push her boundaries. But reality turns out differently. Among the other counselors, Annie stands out for her innocence and naivety, quickly making her a target. The slightly older, attractive head counselor chooses Annie as his next conquest and manages to seduce her into bed. It is Annie’s first sexual experience, but her loss of virginity is anything but tender.
The experience haunts her for decades to come, leaving deep scars of shame and humiliation in her identity. By returning to her past, Annie attempts to better understand the seventeen-year-old girl she once was, and to explore how memories can take permanent root in the body.
This poignant French coming-of-age drama is directed by Judith Godrèche (Toutes les filles pleurent, Icon of French Cinema, Moi aussi) and is based on the autobiographical novel by Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux. Playing the role of seventeen-year-old Annie in 1958, Godrèche’s daughter, actress Tess Barthélemy, conveys the confusion, obsession, and shame that leave a lasting impact on her self-image and identity following the profound and formative experience of her first sexual encounter. After its premiere in Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2026, the film was praised for its psychological depth, strong performances, and honest look at a defining moment in a young woman’s life.
