The first trailer for By the Sea has been released online by Universal Pictures. Angelina Jolie Pitt directs and stars in the film opposite husband Brad Pitt as an American couple who arrive in a picturesque resort in 1970s France with their marriage in crisis. They subsequently spend time with fellow travelers and come to terms with unresolved issues in their own lives. This is definitely more of a mood-setting teaser trailer than a fully fledged theatrical trailer, but it's quite effective. I love how it opens with the old Universal logo, and the film definitely feels like a throwback relationship drama.

While Jolie's directorial efforts have failed to really "wow" thus far, I like that she's stretching herself with a very different kind of film here. And whatever the story, Pitt and Jolie are both tremendous actors, so it should be fascinating to watch them dig deep into these two characters. The tone is dark and claustrophobic, so the true test will be whether Jolie can keep things engaging as a director without suffocating the audience with the despair of the characters onscreen. I genuinely look forward to finding out.

Watch the first trailer for By the Sea below, via Apple. The film also stars Mélanie Laurent, Niels Arestrup, Melvil Poupaud, and Richard BohringerBy the Sea opens in theaters on November 13th.


Here's the official synopsis for By the Sea:

By the Sea follows an American writer named Roland (Pitt) and his wife, Vanessa (Jolie Pitt), who arrive in a tranquil and picturesque seaside resort in 1970s France, their marriage in apparent crisis.  As they spend time with fellow travelers, including young newlyweds Lea (Laurent) and François (Poupaud), and village locals Michel (Arestrup) and Patrice (Bohringer), the couple begins to come to terms with unresolved issues in their own lives.

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Image via Universal
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Image via Universal

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