Andrè Tèchinè
Quando Hai 17 Anni

The story unfolds over the course of a school year, in a French town surrounded by snowy and—over the months—green and lush mountains (French Pyrenees).
Thomas and Damien attend the same school, with the former making many sacrifices just to reach it since he lives on a mountain farm, while the latter lives more comfortably in the city in a bourgeois family, with a caring and sensitive mother.
Between the two, a relationship of attention—on Damien's part—and hostility, sometimes aggressive—on Thomas's part—develops.
Events will take care to reveal—without shortcuts and clichés, with clarity and poetry—what is real and authentic; beyond the level of acceptance.
At a ritual "passage" party, a large bonfire illuminates Damien's face. His eyes reflect an inner void and at the same time the light of a powerful fire. Perhaps he dreams of a happy ending, somewhat dreamlike, almost unreal, as the beautiful final images tell.
Beautiful is the encouragement spoken by Damien's mother: we must have faith in ourselves, in others, and in life.

For Damien, life begins now.