Just when I thought 2016 would be pretty much a dead loss for Australian cinema, along comes 'Teenage Kicks'. Craig Boreham's screenplay and direction signal the arrival of a major talent in storytelling and filmmaking. It is refreshing to see a powerful and brave local production which explores such a collision of themes. This is not a rite of passage tale, it is a full on roller-coaster of a coming of age story with enough twists and turns to keep the viewer not only engaged but wondering how it will all play out.
While I was watching 'Teenage Kicks' I was reminded of movies like Ana Kokinos' 'Head On' (another visceral and edgy Aussie movie), Robert Redford's 'Ordinary People' and a much loved French classic from the mid 80's 'L'homme Blesse' (The Wounded Man). But I am not declaring that Teenage Kicks is derivative in any way; but it has the balls to explore such a panoply of ideas: such as lust, yearning, belonging, mateship, grief, loss, confusion, trauma and identity. The protagonist Mik; played with great presence by Miles Szanto is all at sea within his being. His burgeoning sexuality; his unfathomable loss early in the narrative and his falling in and out of the darker recesses of sexuality and liberation afford the character and the audience a very up close and personal trip through Mik's turbulent ride. I struggled at times with accepting that the lead character was still a teenager; his very defined features and gravitas on screen; whilst necessary for the dramatic content, did not seem believable for a 17 year old that he was written as.However the actor was so captivating that in the end, this was a quibble I could live with. Daniel Webber who played his best mate, was perfectly cast with a moment in time duality of still in some ways being a boy; but with a man's body and energy. Szanto and Webber had surprisingly great chemistry and there were some brilliantly staged and electric moments between them. Anni Finsterer, a seasoned stage and screen performer had some terrific moments in a role that could have been marginalised by a lesser talent.
The film is handsomely photographed and has plenty of evocative exterior sequences as well as some intimate and confronting interiors. I loved the texture to the screenplay. A film that can cohesively weave elements of culture, gender, sexuality, erotica and adolescence in one is a bona fide achievement. I found it moving, troubling,insightful and illuminating. I sincerely hope it gets more attention and an audience.
While I was watching 'Teenage Kicks' I was reminded of movies like Ana Kokinos' 'Head On' (another visceral and edgy Aussie movie), Robert Redford's 'Ordinary People' and a much loved French classic from the mid 80's 'L'homme Blesse' (The Wounded Man). But I am not declaring that Teenage Kicks is derivative in any way; but it has the balls to explore such a panoply of ideas: such as lust, yearning, belonging, mateship, grief, loss, confusion, trauma and identity. The protagonist Mik; played with great presence by Miles Szanto is all at sea within his being. His burgeoning sexuality; his unfathomable loss early in the narrative and his falling in and out of the darker recesses of sexuality and liberation afford the character and the audience a very up close and personal trip through Mik's turbulent ride. I struggled at times with accepting that the lead character was still a teenager; his very defined features and gravitas on screen; whilst necessary for the dramatic content, did not seem believable for a 17 year old that he was written as.However the actor was so captivating that in the end, this was a quibble I could live with. Daniel Webber who played his best mate, was perfectly cast with a moment in time duality of still in some ways being a boy; but with a man's body and energy. Szanto and Webber had surprisingly great chemistry and there were some brilliantly staged and electric moments between them. Anni Finsterer, a seasoned stage and screen performer had some terrific moments in a role that could have been marginalised by a lesser talent.
The film is handsomely photographed and has plenty of evocative exterior sequences as well as some intimate and confronting interiors. I loved the texture to the screenplay. A film that can cohesively weave elements of culture, gender, sexuality, erotica and adolescence in one is a bona fide achievement. I found it moving, troubling,insightful and illuminating. I sincerely hope it gets more attention and an audience.