Teenagers 2024 Archives

Unspoken

Jeremy Borison’s moving debut film provides a glimpse into the world of Noam, a religious high school student who comes from a very traditional Jewish-American family. Noam finds a love letter addressed to his grandfather by another man, written before the holocaust, and decides to look for the mystery man who wrote the letter and learn more about his grandfather as well as himself.
Charlie Korman is doing a wonderful job in the lead role. His best friend and love interest who helps him dig into his family secrets (that everyone seems adamant to hide) is played by Israeli actor Michael Zapesotsky (best known for his roles in TV series “Yellow Peppers” and “The Commander”).
“Unspoken” is a moving teen film that encompasses the past, present and the complex experience of being a religious teen in a conservative Jewish environment.

Girl Picture

Best friends Mimmi and Ronkko work at a local shakes bar after school. They exchange honest stories about their frustrations and expectations of love and sex. Rebellious Mimmi is swept into a thrilling and unexpected romance with Emma, a professional figure skater practicing for the European Championship. Both girls struggle to find the trust and compromise needed to sustain a long term relationship. Meanwhile Ronkko is hopping from one party to another and from one sexual encounter to the next in order to find the One that would make her feel sexual satisfaction and give her the long sought after orgasm she craves.
“Girl Picture” is a delicate and funny exploration of the fears and confusions that come with discovering one’s sexual identity and female sexuality. Director Alli Haapasalo brings to life the three main characters’ unbridled young spirit in a very intelligent and contemporary way. The three main actresses are very impressive in creating the characters of young and complicated individuals. “Girl Picture” is a film which gives us a positive and refreshing view of the power of female friendship.

Unspoken

Additional screening: Haifa Cinematheque, 2.11, 17:00

Riley

Dakota Riley is a beloved football star of his local high school. His dominant father and teammates have a clear plan for him, but Riley, who wants to be loved by everyone, is having a hard time loving himself. He does anonymous hook-ups, suffers from anxiety and lives in constant fear of being outed in a conservative town and a football team that is all toxic masculinity.
“Riley” is a fascinating film of the journey of a young man trying to figure out who he is, what he wants from himself and what is the life path he should be taking. The story focuses on his conflicted emotions and denied desires, all the while navigating adolescence.
“Riley” was written and directed by Benjamin Howard, and it is the director’s first full length feature, after he’s made several award winning short films. Howard is definitely a refreshing discovery and will surely find his place in Hollywood in the next few years. Jake Holley gives a powerful and complex performance as Riley.

Mysterious Skin

20th anniversary of the film “Mysterious Skin”

Opening movie of the 1st ever TLVFest, way back in 2006.
“Mysterious Skin” is a heart breaking cinematic art creation directed by Gregg Araki (“Totally F***ed Up”), and is celebrating 20 years to its debut screening at the Venice Film Festival.

“Mysterious Skin” is based on Scott Heim’s book and describes the meeting of two young men in a small town in Kansas. Neil is a hustler and Brian is obsessed with alien abductions. As the paths of the two collide and a shared truth from their past will resurface.
This is a stunning cinematic piece that through its colourful pop beauty describes a horrible and painful reality. This is one of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s best performances.

Young Hearts

In the middle of the school year, 13 year old Elias meets his new neighbor, 14 year old Alexander, a confident boy from Brussels. The two boys enjoy their time together, and as their relationship deepens – Elias develops new feelings. He realizes he is falling in love for the first time. The fear of how his family and the people around him will react makes him keep his feelings to himself and he sinks deeper and deeper into a web of lies that threatens to destroy the beautiful connection between him and his new friend.
Anthony Schatteman’s debut film was one of more pleasant surprises at the latest Berlinale. The Belgian director won praises for his sensitive and intelligent film and is marked as one of the promising voices in contemporary European cinema.