[Warning - this may contain spoilers]
I have not seen a good movie specifically made for the teenage/young adult demographic until I saw Show Me Love on a one-week only engagement at an independent theater in Salt Lake City. I hated the fluffy and stereotypical teen movies produced by Hollywood except for "10 Things I Hate About You," so I opt for unconventional films. This is one of these rare teen movies that not only touch on the harsh reality of the turmoils of love, sexuality, anger, jealousy, heartache, suicidal tendency, clinical depression and other issues in adolescence not tackled in the most uncompromising way by Hollywood but also the reflection of Western civilization in which teenagers live, think and behave differently from adults. I don't mean European civilization, but the film is very similar in theme to the American culture and society of teen life.
Although produced and released in Sweden to positive reception from critics and audiences, which turned the film made on a shoestring budget into the runaway success and later won five Swedish equivalent of Oscars (Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Actress for two actors), there's one reason to see why the movie is great: the chemistry between Rebecca Liljeberg and Alexandra Dahlstrom as the high school girls who were initially emotionally detached but fell madly in love after the "dare," and specifically Ms. Liljeberg (only 16 year old at the time of production) for her performance.
Rebecca's acting debut in a full-length film is one of the most emotionally intense and genuine performance I've ever seen in a film, and you have to see Show Me Love to know what I'm talking about. She may look cute, but don't be fooled by her pretty looks and focus on her acting. This is the exquisitely talented Swedish actress who should have gotten recognization in the North America. I am still astounded by her tour de force performance even long after I saw the movie. If the film historians claim that the best performance ever seen in a film was a stage actress who gave the one-time only performance in the French silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc, Rebecca Liljeberg should be our next great young actress of the future of European cinema. She can act and cry and emote without cue, and without an iota of manipulation and sentimentality that should put to shame most popular Hollywood actresses.
The film is not without the flaws. It has the worst cinematography I've seen, with vomit yellow and green lighting hues. Gritty 16mm style is fine in my book, but sitting through poor lighting pervading the movie made it a nauseating experience. Director Lukas Moodysson may have the intention of emulating Dogme 95 invented by Lars Von Trier of Breaking the Wave fame, but his penchant for rough visual style is crude and enduring. It's mostly an experimental film, but the film is saved by quality acting and screenplay that doesn't meander and pander to insult the intelligence of the audience unlike the crappy post-80s Hollywood teen genre.
I won't divulge the whole plot of the movie, since it would be the most rewarding experience to see an authentic teen movie that tackles the serious issues faced by teenagers of all nations of the world, especially Sweden. The movie is supposed to be a charming and benign comedy, but I disagree; it's definitely a drama movie with the interjection of sarcastic humor.
Show Me Love (the original Swedish title is blunt and vulgar, which would not be much of an impact in the U.S.) is not rated, but it would not be appropriate for teens under 15 year old because of abundant profanity, brief sex, graphic sexual references, suicide attempt, drug/alcohol abuse and lesbian interludes which may be objectionable to some. Unless, of course, if the teenagers and even preteens are intellectually precocious. Watch the film with an open mind and you'll see the inner fragility of the teenage soul as conveyed by the virtuoso acting of Alexandra Dahlstrom and Rebecca Liljeberg.
I have not seen a good movie specifically made for the teenage/young adult demographic until I saw Show Me Love on a one-week only engagement at an independent theater in Salt Lake City. I hated the fluffy and stereotypical teen movies produced by Hollywood except for "10 Things I Hate About You," so I opt for unconventional films. This is one of these rare teen movies that not only touch on the harsh reality of the turmoils of love, sexuality, anger, jealousy, heartache, suicidal tendency, clinical depression and other issues in adolescence not tackled in the most uncompromising way by Hollywood but also the reflection of Western civilization in which teenagers live, think and behave differently from adults. I don't mean European civilization, but the film is very similar in theme to the American culture and society of teen life.
Although produced and released in Sweden to positive reception from critics and audiences, which turned the film made on a shoestring budget into the runaway success and later won five Swedish equivalent of Oscars (Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Actress for two actors), there's one reason to see why the movie is great: the chemistry between Rebecca Liljeberg and Alexandra Dahlstrom as the high school girls who were initially emotionally detached but fell madly in love after the "dare," and specifically Ms. Liljeberg (only 16 year old at the time of production) for her performance.
Rebecca's acting debut in a full-length film is one of the most emotionally intense and genuine performance I've ever seen in a film, and you have to see Show Me Love to know what I'm talking about. She may look cute, but don't be fooled by her pretty looks and focus on her acting. This is the exquisitely talented Swedish actress who should have gotten recognization in the North America. I am still astounded by her tour de force performance even long after I saw the movie. If the film historians claim that the best performance ever seen in a film was a stage actress who gave the one-time only performance in the French silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc, Rebecca Liljeberg should be our next great young actress of the future of European cinema. She can act and cry and emote without cue, and without an iota of manipulation and sentimentality that should put to shame most popular Hollywood actresses.
The film is not without the flaws. It has the worst cinematography I've seen, with vomit yellow and green lighting hues. Gritty 16mm style is fine in my book, but sitting through poor lighting pervading the movie made it a nauseating experience. Director Lukas Moodysson may have the intention of emulating Dogme 95 invented by Lars Von Trier of Breaking the Wave fame, but his penchant for rough visual style is crude and enduring. It's mostly an experimental film, but the film is saved by quality acting and screenplay that doesn't meander and pander to insult the intelligence of the audience unlike the crappy post-80s Hollywood teen genre.
I won't divulge the whole plot of the movie, since it would be the most rewarding experience to see an authentic teen movie that tackles the serious issues faced by teenagers of all nations of the world, especially Sweden. The movie is supposed to be a charming and benign comedy, but I disagree; it's definitely a drama movie with the interjection of sarcastic humor.
Show Me Love (the original Swedish title is blunt and vulgar, which would not be much of an impact in the U.S.) is not rated, but it would not be appropriate for teens under 15 year old because of abundant profanity, brief sex, graphic sexual references, suicide attempt, drug/alcohol abuse and lesbian interludes which may be objectionable to some. Unless, of course, if the teenagers and even preteens are intellectually precocious. Watch the film with an open mind and you'll see the inner fragility of the teenage soul as conveyed by the virtuoso acting of Alexandra Dahlstrom and Rebecca Liljeberg.