First Girl I Loved

This movie had all the potential to be something really nice but it almost looks forced. The girl playing Anne looks perfect for it and it is the typical quirky girl but her acting is so cringy at parts if not all the movie. This movie is really messy and I wouldn't reccomend it. It has a nice vibe but that's it.

Kerem Sanga's First Girl I Loved is a coming of age story following confused high-schoolers trying to figure themselves out in respect to who their friends are, sexual preference and how to accept who they are in the face of so much uncertainty and the constant world of judgement that is high school.

Anne, our protagonist, Cliff, the best-friend, and Sasha, the love interest, are like most high- schoolers in that they are confused about almost everything. We follow their stories through a mixture of flashbacks and flash forwards in an almost cyclic view as we see Anne coming to terms with her sexuality.

For those who attended school in any capacity, you will recall the confusion, the desire to fit in and the fear of judgment from peers whilst simultaneously attempting to understand ones likes and dislikes and to keep it all together with no less than a smile. Both Anne and Sasha comment on the pressure of how they are perceived by their peers with the under confidence of some of the characters and the ability to be unapologetically themselves becoming slightly frustrating for someone who wishes they too stood up for themselves when they were younger.

First Girl I Loved isn't all about teen angst and the confusing ride of the ups and downs of friendships. We are given an insight into the world of Softball with subtitles coming up for the hand signals given between a coach and his players and the comic relief in the text messages between the two girls. In a technologically advanced world the mobile phone has really been a big hit providing Kerem Sanga with another medium for the characters to express emotions, one which the younger members of the audience will relate to quite readily.

This heart-rendering and complex film comes away with the universal message that nothing can be that bad, even in the face of everything falling apart, with a little bit of self-acceptance life can be a whole lot easier.

With some movies you just know right from the get go, that you will like them. It can be as little as the combination of a certain font used for the credits combined with a moving score. First Girl I Loved is one of those movies. Even though all 3 main characters are portrayed nicely by the actors it is Dylan Gelula who carries the movie. We can see how she feels at any given second, her confusion, uncertainty and fear. I know that some people will call this an LGBT film but I will not. Because it would limit what this film is. It of course is about that but it is also a coming of age story. A story of finding your true self whatever that encapsulates. The feelings of all of our main characters at that point in life where you have to figure out who you are and we have all been there and can relate.

This movie is directed very well cutting some scenes short that will get revealed later but it will be at its best when it reaches the climax. A scene where the stakes are so high and emotions burst. It will be hard to watch but it is in my opinion the most powerful scene which also finally gives Pamela Adlon a well deserved moment to shine. The can be never enough that send a message of who and however you are, you are ok.

This is such a cute movie! It really captures the feeling of falling in love while in the closet. The main actresses are amazing and do their rules justice. Not to mention the indie kid vibes are spot on.

Part of the reason I love this movie is because I relate to it so much. But if I am trying to look at it in a more unbiased state of mind I still feel that as far as lesbian moves go this one is one of the good ones. The acting is great, the writing is real, and the directing is moving.

There are few lines that are somewhat cringy but as far as the writing goes, these lines fit into the general awkwardness and inexperience that comes along with teenage-hood. These actors are great in their roles. I really believe that they have a connection and really care about them. The screenplay, I believe, is very well done. And the directing helps create this emotional energy that I cannot explain.

I, in my own experience as a lesbian, relate to this movie so much. There are some scenes in the movie that I can just feel the emotion that the actors are trying to get across. It is so eloquently portrayed that I cannot help but feel a connection to it.

In short, this movie is good, maybe great. I liked it quite a bit and encourage you to watch it.