Enzo (2025): A Thought-Provoking Review of the Conflicted French Drama at the BFI London Film Festival

Nobody really knows who they are at 16. It’s a confusing time, filled with physical and mental changes, while parents and friends keep asking what you want to do in life. Questions about identity and sexuality often add to the chaos, leading to angst and mistakes.

Enter Enzo (Eloy Pohu). Fresh from high school, he’s set on becoming a bricklayer, much to his affluent parents’ dismay. Paolo (Pierfrancesco Favino) and Marion (Élodie Bouchez) hope he’ll realize that hard work isn’t for him and return to a more suitable career in art, where he has undeniable talent.

His brother Victor (Nathan Japy) is the perfect child, and this only fuels Enzo’s rebellion. While working at a construction site, he forms friendships with two Ukrainian men, Vlad (Maksym Slivinskyi) and Miroslav (Vladislav Holyk). An attraction to Vlad complicates his feelings, especially when Miroslav pressures Vlad to return home to fight in the ongoing war, which Vlad resists.

“Enzo” was meant to be directed by the acclaimed Laurent Cantet, who passed away before completion. Robin Campillo took over, resulting in a film that feels a bit disjointed. It struggles to balance themes of class divide, sexual awakening, and duty to one’s country.

The premise of a privileged kid choosing manual labor is intriguing. A key scene shows Enzo’s boss deciding not to fire him after realizing his wealthy background. This raises questions about privilege: can the rich escape consequences, while others struggle? However, the film could have strengthened its narrative by diving deeper into this class divide.

At times, Enzo is frustrating. He craves struggle despite having a comfortable life and seeks the manual challenges of bricklaying, even when he’s unskilled. His fascination with the war leads him to think about joining the fight, showcasing extreme self-sabotage.

While Pohu’s performance can be grating, Slivinskyi shines as the supportive friend, offering Enzo perspective. Favino and Bouchez, as parents, are compelling, but the screenplay limits them to either overly relaxed or excessively frustrated roles.

Visually, the film shines, with the beauty of the French Riviera enhancing its stories. Campillo allows the scenery to speak, the sound of cicadas creating a backdrop of unease.

“Enzo” holds potential. With a sharper script, it could have become a significant LGBTQ film or a poignant exploration of class disparity. Instead, it ends up a mixture that leaves viewers feeling as lost as its main character.

Enzo premiered at the 2025 BFI London Film Festival.

Useful Links

• IMDb
• Rotten Tomatoes
• Letterboxd

Cast:
Eloy Pohu, Pierfrancesco Favino, Élodie Bouchez, Maksym Slivinskyi, Nathan Japy, Vladislav Holyk.

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2020s,2025,Coming-of-age,Drama,Élodie Bouchez,Eloy Pohu,France,French,Gilles Marchand,Laurent Cantet,Maksym Slivinskyi,Pierfrancesco Favino,Queer Drama,Robin Campillo,Romance Drama,Social Realism,Ukrainian