That Tender Age 1964

Before the summer break, Antoine Lartigue and Marie Malhouin decide to get engaged. Marie’s father Émile is guarded, but Antoine’s father Adolphe is ecstatic and insists that all the Malhouin family must come and stay with his family in his villa at St Tropez. When they arrive, Émile, a phlegmatic Norman, finds the endless bonhomie and bragging of the Provençal Adolphe increasingly annoying. His son Antoine also has a fiery Mediterranean temperament, which erupts in a disco when Marie dances with an old flame and Antoine thumps him. Appalled, Marie breaks off the engagement.

Insulted at his son being rejected, Adolphe says more to Émile than he should, upon which Émile packs family and baggage into the car and drives straight back to Paris. One evening Marie does not come home and to try and find her Émile rings everybody he can think of. The phone being constantly busy, Adolphe is unable to contact him. He has come to Paris to try and find Antoine, who has disappeared. When in apprehension he knocks on Émile’s door, he gets a frosty reception but at that point Marie rings home to say she is all right and with Antoine.