📋 Movie Overview

• Title: Beyond the Horizon (Original French title: Le milieu de l’horizon)

• Release Date: 2019

• Genre: Coming‑of‑Age, Drama

• Director: Delphine Lehericey

• Cast: Luc Bruchez (Gus), Laetitia Casta, Clémence Poésy

• Where to Watch: Film festivals and selected international platforms

1. Plot Summary

Set during the scorching summer of 1976 amidst a severe drought, Beyond the Horizon follows 13-year-old Gus as he confronts the crumbling of his family and the end of his innocence. In the parched countryside of Switzerland, Gus’s world begins to unravel, forcing him to grow up quickly. The film intimately captures his coming-of-age journey amid environmental and emotional desolation.

2. Notable Elements

• Evocative summer heat: The cinematography captures the intense sunlight and dry landscapes, immersing viewers in the physical and emotional tension.

• Skillful adaptation: Director Delphine Lehericey successfully adapts a short story into a visually poetic film full of quiet intensity.

• Concise storytelling: At just 90 minutes, the film delivers a compact yet powerful narrative that resonates long after viewing.

3. Themes & Messages

• Loss of innocence: As Gus’s family fractures, his childhood slips away, symbolizing the end of a personal era.

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• Environmental and emotional crises: The drought mirrors the emotional barrenness between characters, highlighting the intersection of climate and human vulnerability.

4. Personal Impressions

👍 Strengths:

• Beyond the Horizon plays like a subtle elegy to lost childhood and resilience.

• Luc Bruchez delivers a deeply layered performance, portraying Gus as both vulnerable and quietly courageous.

👎 Weaknesses:

• The pacing can be slow, with long silent sequences that might not appeal to viewers expecting more dynamic storytelling.

5. Audience Recommendations

• Recommended for: Fans of poetic, introspective dramas and coming-of-age films like The Tree of Life or Moonlight.

• Less suitable for: Viewers who prefer fast-paced plots or action-heavy narratives.

6. Conclusion & Rating

Beyond the Horizon is not your typical feel-good movie — it is a moving, atmospheric meditation on growing up, loss, and survival. A quiet, emotional symphony under a burning sun.

Final Verdict: A beautifully crafted, artistic experience.
⭐ Rating: 4 / 5