Bilitis

Bilitis (1977) is a French coming-of-age drama by David Hamilton, and you can watch it online on iFILM. One summer after boarding school, a young woman tries to make sense of love for the first time.

Bilitis is drawn to the photographer Luc, yet physical closeness leaves her cold — she longs for tenderness and something more delicate. On holiday she stays with Melissa, a family friend trapped in a chilly marriage, and a brief, hesitant bond forms between them. Older and wiser, Melissa won't let it go further, so Bilitis sets out to find her a gentle lover, never guessing she'll be the one left hurting. Patti D'Arbanville carries that innocence quietly, almost without words.

Hamilton came to film from photography, and it shows in every frame: soft diffused light, pastel tones, a hazy blur in place of sharp focus — the signature look that countless imitators later borrowed. This is a film about mood and atmosphere more than plot, best watched like a slow summer watercolour. Stream Bilitis (1977) online on iFILM.