Audience Member
I could go on and on about this film. First of all, I've never seen a serious teenage relationship depicted so realistically, nor treated with such respect in a movie targeted at adults. Massadian did not downplay their love through naive infatuation. The negative aspects of their relationship were present, but not in a way that makes the viewer feel they shouldn't be together. The positive sides have you rooting for them. Credit should also be given to both of these actors, who gave excellent performances.
Milla herself was a refreshingly realistic older teen girl. Something about her giggliness brought me right back to being a teen-- giggling when I was uncomfortable, when I was happy, and during intimate moments in relationships. In a way, it's a character trait of a person who isn't yet sure of how to outwardly express their range of emotions. We see her grow out of this as the film progresses and we witness maturity in action. Not to mention, she was just so cute-- she wasn't sexualized as older teen girls often are, she had a realistic teenage girl body, she was often unshowered and wearing the same thing for days on end-- she was incredibly relatable. As the years jumped forward, we got to see her wardrobe change in ways that, while not drastic, displayed how far she had come in the process of growing up.
Finally, this film depicts nonverbal communication beautifully. It's quiet, long, and slow-paced, and as the film progress, the story becomes less and less present. In this context, however, it works-- this is meant to show a girl undergoing a major life transition in a very real way, and these transition periods are nearly always uncertain and non-linear, full of plateaus and loneliness. Massadian challenges the viewer to feel these things along with Milla. As I watched the film, I began to feel it would be stronger if some scenes were cut, particularly in the second half. Nonetheless, as I reflected, I realized how important it is that this movie stay just as it is. We begin to feel directionless, and even bored, wondering if the scenes will come together to lead to a neatly-packaged climactic event or sense of finality; if this is what you want, you're going to be disappointed. It simply doesn't happen. We are going along on this journey with Milla, and although it's quiet and lonesome, it's intertwined with slivers of hope, humor, and growth.
I highly recommend this film. It's emotionally engaging in ways I haven't seen many others pull off. And, as an aside, it's just gorgeously shot. Massadian has a distinguished style which I hope to see in many more films to come.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
01/25/23
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