Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Romantic drama

Bonjour Tristesse (2025): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Bonjour Tristesse (2025) movie poster

Bonjour Tristesse is a 2025 romantic drama directed by Durga Chew-Bose, starring Lily McInerny as Cécile, Nailia Harzoune and Claes Bang. It is based on Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan and Heather Lloyd. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes and earned $459,616 worldwide. Critics gave it 64 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10.

IMDb rating
5.7/10
worldwide gross
$459.6K
Echo Score
65
Metascore
64
Loading streaming availability…
Bonjour Tristesse (2025) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 50m (110 min)
Director
Durga Chew-Bose
Genres
Drama , Romance
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Bonjour Tristesse About?

The premise of Bonjour Tristesse without spoilers, adapted from Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan and Heather Lloyd. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Cécile enjoys a carefree summer at her father's villa in the south of France, where he lives with his current companion, Elsa. Their relationship is comfortable and relaxed, creating a world of ease and languor.

Bonjour Tristesse Themes & Keywords

· 14 tags
  • woman
  • love
  • father
  • young
  • world
  • summer
  • coming of age
  • france
  • title directed by female
  • seaside
  • family relationships
  • father daughter relationship
+2 more
  • father's girlfriend
  • teenage girl
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Bonjour Tristesse Cast & Characters

Lily McInerny leads the cast as Cécile, with Nailia Harzoune as Elsa and Claes Bang as Raymond. Directed by Durga Chew-Bose; 11 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Bonjour Tristesse

· 7 more
Ratings

Bonjour Tristesse Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Bonjour Tristesse 64 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 65/100, strongest in sensory experience (82) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

65 /100

Bonjour Tristesse Echo Score Breakdown

Bonjour Tristesse presents a compelling visual atmosphere but is tempered by uneven narrative drive and limited emotional depth. The film’s direction and production design create a rich sense of setting and mood, as multiple reviewers note the immersive cinematography and evocative seasonal palette. However, the screenplay’s pacing and character exploration frequently stall, leading to mixed engagement. As a result, the movie registers as a visually engaging yet narratively uneven experience.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of Art & Craft, Bonjour Tristesse excels in its production design and cinematography. The film’s carefully composed frames and lighting establish a distinctive summer ambiance. Critics highlight the meticulous costuming and set decoration, which foster an immersive environment. While the direction sometimes leans into a gentle restraint, the overall visual cohesion remains a clear strength.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    When it comes to Character & Emotion, the performances deliver occasional depth but lack consistent psychological insight. Observers note a nuanced portrayal of adolescent affect and performative social rituals. However, the narrative often prioritizes mood over substantive character motivation, leaving emotional arcs underdeveloped. The result is a film that conveys personality through gesture and tone but offers limited lasting resonance.

  • Story & Flow 55

    Regarding Story & Flow, the film blends moments of intrigue with uneven pacing that occasionally undermines narrative cohesion. Several reviewers highlight a sense of aimlessness in the screenplay’s structural development, noting that key plot turns lack sufficient build-up. At times, the story achieves lyrical engagement, but it frequently shifts tone, resulting in a fluctuating momentum. Ultimately, the narrative cohesion remains inconsistent.

  • Sensory Experience 82

    In terms of Sensory Experience, Bonjour Tristesse offers a consistently immersive audiovisual palette. The soundtrack and sound design subtly reinforce the seasonal atmosphere, while the visual styling employs an understated color scheme to evoke a languid summer mood. Observers praise the film’s ability to sustain a dreamlike quality through measured editing rhythms. The sensory cohesion strongly underpins the film’s evocative atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    As for Rewatch Factor, the film’s strong visual and atmospheric elements suggest potential for repeat viewings. However, the uneven narrative structure and limited character development may reduce its lasting appeal over subsequent screenings. While the evocative mood can reward additional observation of stylistic details, the sporadic pacing and shallow emotional arcs temper the incentive to revisit. Overall, the rewatch appeal remains modest.

Plot

Bonjour Tristesse Plot Summary

What happens in Bonjour Tristesse from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Parisian teenager Cécile is enjoying a leisurely summer on the beautiful French Riviera, where she is accompanied by her widowed father, Raymond, and his girlfriend, Elsa, a dancer who is both charming and insightful. Their relationship appears harmonious as Cécile spends her time balancing her boyfriend, Cyril, with family moments.

The dynamics of their vacation take a significant turn when fashion designer Anne Larsen—an old friend of Raymond and his late wife—arrives to join them. Anne is characterized by her cultured demeanor, work ethic, and a protective instinct towards Cécile, which creates an unsettling tension. Initially, the two bond over their shared interests in fashion, but conflicts arise as Cécile feels challenged when Anne questions her academic focus, something both she and her father have previously dismissed as trivial.

Full summary

The whole story of Bonjour Tristesse, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Bonjour Tristesse Box Office

Bonjour Tristesse grossed $459,616 worldwide. $256,136 came from the US and Canada and $203,480 (44%) from the rest of the world.

2025 box office

Worldwide gross

$459.6K

US & Canada
$256.1K
International
$203.5K
US & Canada 56% Rest of the world 44%
Videos

Bonjour Tristesse Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 2 trailers and 2 featurettes.

Official Trailer (Greenwitch Entertainment)
  • Trailer Official Trailer (Elevation Pictures)
  • Featurette Intro + Q&A with Durga Chew-Bose & Chloë Sevigny
  • Featurette Interview with Durga Chew-Bose
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Bonjour Tristesse?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the Parisian teenager at the center of the story?

Details

Bonjour Tristesse Also Known As

8 alternative titles, including “你好,忧愁” and “Hello Sadness”.

Also known as
  • 你好,忧愁
  • Hello Sadness
  • Здравствуй, грусть
  • 슬픔이여 안녕
  • Добър ден, тъга
  • Добридень, смутку!
  • Bon dia, tristesa
  • Buenos días, tristeza

Seen Bonjour Tristesse?

FAQ

Bonjour Tristesse FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Bonjour Tristesse, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Bonjour Tristesse?

Bonjour Tristesse runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).

When was Bonjour Tristesse released?

Bonjour Tristesse was released on May 2, 2025.

Who directed Bonjour Tristesse?

Bonjour Tristesse was directed by Durga Chew-Bose.

Who is in the cast of Bonjour Tristesse?

Bonjour Tristesse stars Lily McInerny as Cécile, Nailia Harzoune as Elsa and Claes Bang as Raymond, among 11 credited actors.

How much did Bonjour Tristesse make at the box office?

Bonjour Tristesse grossed $459,616 worldwide ($256,136 domestic, $203,480 international).

How is Bonjour Tristesse rated?

Bonjour Tristesse has 5.7/10 on IMDb, 64 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Is Bonjour Tristesse based on a book?

Yes. Bonjour Tristesse is adapted from Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan and Heather Lloyd.

Does Bonjour Tristesse have a post-credit scene?

No. Bonjour Tristesse has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app