A 13 year-old boy befriends a group of skateboarders in 1990s Los Angeles.
Certificate
Duration85 mins
Review by
This film feels natural, the plot and characters intertwining to create a documentary type feel due to it’s extremely casual and realistic manner. I’d describe the feel as ‘low-budget’ however i use this in its most flattering description as it just works!
The cinematography in this film is perfectly representative of lower class suburban towns in america, continuously flowing rows of bungalows and restricted houses lining the roads... a web of inescapable streets. The vast location adds to the inescapable and long lived ideology of the blissfully casual lifestyle the teens are living in this film.
The majority of the main actors come from a group called illegal civ that make skate films and short clips on youtube where they show off their skills and this same ambience is inhabited in this film. The specific selection of these characters adds to the nonchalant vibe the film purposefully holds as they feel comfortable together and work naturally to portray the close knit group focused on in the film.
The main themes of this film revolve around the immense about of free time teens have, the haziness of teen years, peer pressure and group influence, idolisation, and the skate communities apparent in the majority of American neighbourhoods. Each of these being relatable to this films young (but not too young) demographic as they recognise and resonate with the mentality the main characters have and how they deal with issues and events that arise. The demographic will undoubtedly romanticise the lifestyle of the teens in this film and therefore, it is extremely admirable and worth watching if your into escapism!