This would have some merit if it wasn't a carbon copy of Gus Van Sant's Elephant. From the use of classical music to the long tracking shots to shots occasional cutting to shots of tree leaves (Van Sant does this also but uses clouds for the cutaways). Furthermore, the rape scene and the "twist" behind it is simply there to be controversial and shock audiences. It's intentions (these aforementioned devices) are so transparent that it fails dysmally.
The events leading up to the suicide are so melodramatic and exaggerated and completely lack any subtlety that they'd be better suited to an episode of Home and Away.
The fact that the story plays out more like a whodunnit thriller ends up undermining the whole point of the film. It's so caught up in it's own supposed cleverness that the viewer would almost feel cheated if they weren't treated to a suicide at the end.
What does the film say about suicide that we don't already know? It presents us with stock standard teenage problems without any new insight.
The acting is the only redeemable aspect of the film.
The events leading up to the suicide are so melodramatic and exaggerated and completely lack any subtlety that they'd be better suited to an episode of Home and Away.
The fact that the story plays out more like a whodunnit thriller ends up undermining the whole point of the film. It's so caught up in it's own supposed cleverness that the viewer would almost feel cheated if they weren't treated to a suicide at the end.
What does the film say about suicide that we don't already know? It presents us with stock standard teenage problems without any new insight.
The acting is the only redeemable aspect of the film.