This is a sensitive portrayal of two women from different backgrounds in conservative, rural France. Delphine, a country girl in Paris is introduced to feminism at a time (1971) shortly after the student riots in Paris, the bra-burning feminism of late 60s USA, and the teen-led cultural revolution in music, art and fashion. Paris was a world away from her farm in the Limousin. It is a film about feminism and lesbianism with strong female leads directed by an experienced female director who was, herself, a teenager at the time the film was set. As such it is authentic and tender, not titillating. It is a film about relationships, between Delphine and her mother, her Parisian girlfriend, the boy she is expected to marry and above all the conflict between the city and the country.

It is a film that could only be made in Europe and only set in the 70s and was justifiably nominated for a Lumiere, France's equivalent to the Golden Globes. Jellybeansucker should stick to sucking jelly beans and watching simplistic action movies. This is for those who prefer content to pace.

to paraphrase the opening lullaby from Porgy and Bess. The folk opera written by George Gershwin, his brother Ira, and DuBose Heyward, author of the novel on which the show was based, opened on Broadway in 1935 but coincidentally an 'adult' play, The Children's Hour, by Lillian Hellman opened on Broadway and the 'adult' theme was the accusation (false) by a malicious schoolgirl that the two unmarried young women who owned the private school were engaged in an active lesbian relationship. 80 years later women are in the provinces are still not allowed to display sexual affection openly and that is the main thrust of this excellent film. For me, a heterosexual male the selling point was third-billed Noemie Lvovsky as the mother of one of the two female lovers followed by Cecile de France whom I had seen only in ingenue-type roles. The key to the film was the time it was set, 1971, when 'feminist' activists were making a noise world-wide but farmer's daughter Izia Higelin is in no position to express feelings about anything in Limousin so she moves to Paris and in nothing flat is heavily involved in women's lib and in nothing flatter she seduces a leader of the movement, Cecilde de France, who, as it happen, is in a relationship (they share a home) with a man. It's not, of course, much of a problem to maintain an all-female relationship in Paris but that would be too easy so when the farmer suffers a stroke his more than able-bodied daughter moves back to Limousin to run the farm. Cecile de France, now in way over her head, follows her and they continue the passionate affair clandestinely. This is a very lyrical film with gorgeous shots of the country around Limousin and farming activities like haymaking designed to enhance the unorthodox story. It ends in tears, natch, but it is a journey well worth sharing with the protagonists.

'La Belle Saison' is set in 1971 when women were asserting their rights – as indeed a lot of folk were doing the same to a world that was not really ready. This is set against the lives of Delphine from a rural farming family. She escapes to Paris where she happens to cross paths with the fiery Carole (Cécile de France – 'Meserine').

Then amidst the heady cocktail of feminism, liberation and radical politics they expressed themselves sexually – which of course was revolutionary. Yes they set about challenging the heterosexual orthodoxy - and found more than just a political statement in that they fell for each other.

Now there is tons more to this inspiringly brilliant film. It is made in such a way that the characters come alive and are completely believable. All the performances are outstanding and the period detail is really good too. The hair and fashions as well as the vehicles are spot on – and some nice Janis Joplin songs on the soundtrack too. There is so much here to like that it is a very easy job to recommend.