Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno (2018)

Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno is special because it doesn’t just tell you what young desire feels like—it lets you live inside its heat, its awkward pauses, its teasing glances, and its long summer nights, all with Abdellatif Kechiche’s uncommonly immersive eye for human behavior. Set in sun-drenched Sète, the film breathes with the salty, lived-in texture of beaches, bars, and family meals, and the performances make every flirtation and friendship feel less like a scene and more like a memory you’re eavesdropping on. It’s a languorous, sensual hangout movie where the drama comes from social rituals and shifting attraction rather than plot mechanics, and that authenticity is exactly the point. Fair warning: the frank sexuality, extended party rhythms, and observational pacing won’t be for everyone—but if you’re open to a romance-drama that prioritizes atmosphere and intimacy over tidy storytelling, it’s intoxicating.

Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno is aiming for a sun-drenched, slice-of-life coming-of-age romance where the plot matters less than the heat, the music, and the messy pull of desire in a tight-knit summer town. The problem is it’s extremely long for how little it actually moves, with a meandering structure that can feel more like hanging around than watching a story unfold. Kechiche can capture texture and naturalistic conversation, but the film’s lingering, often sexualized gaze on the women will be a dealbreaker for many, and the characters don’t always deepen enough to earn the indulgent runtime. If you want a focused romance with clear arcs and restraint, this likely isn’t for you; if you’re up for a slow, sensual mood piece that prioritizes observation over narrative momentum, you may find something to admire.