So ... (spoilers)


There is a retrovirus that affects the blood of those who have unprotected sex with an infected person. Alex is the son of career criminal Jean. Try as he might Alex cannot resist being drawn into his late father's world and ends up dead as a consequence. It was in his blood, so-to-speak. Alex enjoys a passing fancy with Lise, who, because she is younger, believes it is a deep love. He leaves her a paternal letter in which he counsels her on future sex to protect her from the retrovirus presumably. Alex falls in love with Anna who is unattainable and dresses in the red of blood. She is the only one who gets to wear red. She loves Marc and, thanks to Alex's poisonous words, doubts he loves her.

Not really sure what the film wanted to say about love or how to live one's life, which it seemed to be aiming at. Loved the colours and Mondrianesque graffiti adjacent to the industrial/burned out shop that is home to Marc and Anna.

A bird sings and the mountain's silence deepens.

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I share your sentiments regarding Alex's characterisation. Regarding your uncertainly regarding The Night Is Young's theme on love, I believe you are on the right track in thinking of how love should be used in one's life. Alex is promiscuous and selfish towards women, only thinking of his own desire. Whereas Anna and Lise see love as a pure emotion that makes life meaningful. The Night Is Young's ending is a perfect conclusion towards this theme as Alex has to die in order to truly understand love's meaning.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.

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in thinking of how love should be used in one's life. Alex is promiscuous and selfish towards women, only thinking of his own desire. Whereas Anna and Lise see love as a pure emotion that makes life meaningful. The Night Is Young's ending is a perfect conclusion towards this theme as Alex has to die in order to truly understand love's meaning.
That's a nice observation. It made me think of the David Bowie song during the scene with the kissing couple. The lyrics to that song are so romantic and Alex seemed romantic with Anna but not otherwise.

It's an intriguing film.
A bird sings and the mountain's silence deepens.

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