Lili (Delphine Zentout) is a precocious 14 year-old. She argues with everyone, even those who are nice to her. Whether they are in tune with her continually changing common sense, or challenging her to learn something new, she finds a reason to keep them at bay. It’s as if she needs to disagree in order to stay awake, to keep on the ball in the depressing suburban beach holiday climate her family travels to for the summer.
Normally no school or work would be a vacation, but the settings don’t seem all that relaxing. There are too many stretches of deserted, poorly lit streets. The environs in the film are just as much of a character, or compliment the general negativity experienced by all. Neither Lili, or her brother Maurice, can get anywhere by walking, and hanging out with their folks on the beach is just as antagonizing. Movement, escape, is urgent. So they hitchhike in an effort to explore, only to have the results not be much better than the stagnant trailer room they share. But escape to where?
They try the clubs and bars in the area, but these don’t prove to be any more exciting. The adults they see aren’t exactly the best influence, and can’t provide a positive picture on what to expect as you get older. The places are filled with elders that have a need to run wild, sometimes stripping or making out in a room full of people. So, if being in a room full of those in a phase of life you are trying desperately to reach doesn’t give you any encouragement to actually grow up, what can?
But Lili doesn’t give up on finding some means of solace. She meets a few different men upon her journey out late at night. What makes the connections intriguing is that, though they are much older, with more life experience, she has just as much of an impact on their minds as they have on her’s. The first is a famous musician, who proceeds to talk with her about ambition and personal drive, encouraging her individual style after she requests a conversation instead of an autograph. Through him, she begins to understand that just because parents encourage what is economically feasible for society doesn’t mean that they don’t want her to pursue what would make her happy. From her, he realizes the consequences of not trying to break through generational barriers.
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