The teenage years are always ripe for cinematic imagining and this year's festival did not disappoint, offering up a summer beach holiday in Sweetheart and a going away party in Dramarama.
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| Sweetheart |
I actually thought both of these would be fun, light comedies and was startled by the quite heavy themes that emerged, but that is no bad thing. In Sweetheart, A.J., known to her mum as April, goes on holiday with her family to Freshwater, a seaside camp in Dorset. A.J. bemoans the lack of wi-fi and so begins a long week of drama and conflict. The film brilliantly captures the sulkiness of being 17, while adding enough specifics to make A.J. a memorable character who is exploring her sexuality and (it is implied) gender identity. When A.J. meets the lovely Isla, a lifeguard, sparks fly but things don't go to plan. Of course not, as there would be no film. I was impressed by the writing and direction in this Microwave film and look forward to seeing more from film-maker Marley Morrison.
Dramarama features an ensemble of teens gathering at the Escondido, California home of Rose to bid her farewell before she heads off to New York for uni. They are all theatre geeks and arrive in costume, faux British accents at the ready, for a night of extreme murder mystery posturing. Then a pizza delivery guy arrives and kills the mood. Rivalries escalate, secrets are unearthed and dares are accepted. It's a brilliantly uncomfortable watch as the kids tear each apart psychologically and there are two repressed queer romances on the go, as well. Ouch. A semi-autobiographical story from dir/writer Jonathan Wysocki, it strikes a bittersweet tone as it sends its characters off into uncertain adulthoods.
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