Director Arnaud Desplechin is a noted name in French cinema whose works have been festival favorites at Cannes and the César Awards, just to name a few. In a prequel to his previous film My Sex Life… Or How I Got into an Argument, his latest film, My Golden Days tells the origin story of protagonist Paul Dédalus, in which Quentin Dolmaire reprises his role as the adolescent Paul, through a series of three distinct flashbacks as he reminisces about his childhood, his life, and his former true love.

This coming-of-age tale reveals Paul as a grown man (Mathieu Amalric) who returns to Paris to take a new job. He is stopped by security and forced to explain some questionable events in his past that lead to this point. Here, Paul begins his journey down memory lane, which began with a troubled childhood, and included a mentally unstable mother and depressed father. He remembers an unorthodox trip to the USSR in which he offered up his identity to a stranger, a man whom he still considers his phantom twin. Heis overcome with emotion when reminiscing about the love of his life, Esther (Lou Roy-Lecollinet), and the tortured yet beautiful young woman he once knew.

The risk My Golden Days takes by including three flashbacks is what not only gives the film life but allows every moment to have a different temperament and tone. The first flashback is dark and straightforward, the second is intense and exciting while the third is fragile and takes the most cinematic risk using split screen effects, breaking the fourth wall. It is reminiscent of classic French films from the 80’s mixed with a Wes Anderson quirkiness.

Perhaps one would benefit from having seen My Sex Life… Or How I Got into an Argument before watching this film, although it is not necessary to enjoy the story. First-time actor and Bridget Bardot lookalike Lou Roy-Lecollinet is a magnet on screen and her vulnerabilities play perfectly to Mathieu Amalric’s restrained control and confidence. Using offbeat humor and emotional sensitivity, My Golden Days is an ode to youth culture and its enchanting unknowns.

My Golden Days opens Friday, March 18th at the Landmark