Where to begin...
It is hard to think of a cliche this film left out. Truly impressive!
We have excessive drinking (which seems to take up most of the film's protracted 113 minutes - so prepare yourself for shots of acned teens pouring pilsner over the faces), trouble with the authorities/rival gangs and impossible teen love - the protagonist falls for a girl who belongs to said group of skinheads. When has such an original romance been portrayed before?
Interestingly, young Juliet never speaks at a normal volume, but whispers every single one of her comically jarring lines. Towards the end of the film (when she, surprise, surprise, visits him in prison) her voice is barely audible for additional comic gravitas, I'm sure. I wonder if this was the director's choice, but I am not able to put myself through the DVD's director's commentary, but please feel free to do so yourself.
Casual misogyny, racism, drug use, vandalism imbue the film - though it does not come across as a critique or portrait of the time but rather an embarrassing parody which celebrates its own bad plot development.
Perhaps the most painful to watch are the misplaced flashback scenes to the characters' youth and education under socialism. A combination of piss-poor writing and marginally better robotic performances turn the scenes from what the producers clearly thought was a tear-jerking coming of age exploration into a rather different area of philosophical contemplation. You will ask yourself; have those responsible for this film ever heard anyone below the age of 16 speak, ever?
Worth a watch, non-stop laughter guaranteed.
We have excessive drinking (which seems to take up most of the film's protracted 113 minutes - so prepare yourself for shots of acned teens pouring pilsner over the faces), trouble with the authorities/rival gangs and impossible teen love - the protagonist falls for a girl who belongs to said group of skinheads. When has such an original romance been portrayed before?
Interestingly, young Juliet never speaks at a normal volume, but whispers every single one of her comically jarring lines. Towards the end of the film (when she, surprise, surprise, visits him in prison) her voice is barely audible for additional comic gravitas, I'm sure. I wonder if this was the director's choice, but I am not able to put myself through the DVD's director's commentary, but please feel free to do so yourself.
Casual misogyny, racism, drug use, vandalism imbue the film - though it does not come across as a critique or portrait of the time but rather an embarrassing parody which celebrates its own bad plot development.
Perhaps the most painful to watch are the misplaced flashback scenes to the characters' youth and education under socialism. A combination of piss-poor writing and marginally better robotic performances turn the scenes from what the producers clearly thought was a tear-jerking coming of age exploration into a rather different area of philosophical contemplation. You will ask yourself; have those responsible for this film ever heard anyone below the age of 16 speak, ever?
Worth a watch, non-stop laughter guaranteed.