Der Ketchup-Effekt

Maybe it's because I'm not a kid anymore, most wouldn't even consider me that young. In fact, I suppose I'm about the same age as the main characters father and his co-workers at the school his daughter attends and gets lauded with being a whore. It's probably also because my wife is a teacher and that I myself have done some temp-work, in any case this movie really captured me and made me feel very uncomfortable - but in a good way.

It's a movie that shows how easily things can go wrong and how hard it is to get rid of a rumour - no matter how untrue. It's also an image of the struggles of friendship. Both I and my wife talked long about the movie after seeing it, discussing who of the characters most corresponded to ourselves as youngsters, how we wish we hadn't been and how hard it is for "adults" to really understand their kids. The movie left us with the hope that we won't treat our kids the same way when they reach the critical age -that WE would be able to listen without prejudice and keep an open mind. This movie is a must-see for all teenagers and their parents, but not together. Teenagers separate, their parents separate. And make sure you have time for a long discussion afterwards - it's worth it.

A good solid movie with HUGE young talent in the leading roles.

It's even more unsettling when you think that writer/director Fabik has based events on her own experiences. Grade: 4/5

I'm not going to waste more than one paragraph on this rubbish. It's just one of those movies, among many, that make you ashamed to be Swedish. Why do we have to put up with steaming crap like this, let alone praise it? It's NOT realistic, it's merely a Swedish remake of the equally pseudo-shocking "Thirteen", only with a dumber sense of humour and minus the hotness of Evan Rachel Wood. The plot is dull, the jokes are mind-numbing (not to mention incredibly awkward and out of place in a movie which supposedly portrays teenage life as it really is), the performances sub-par. I don't know what else to say except don't see this and watch Torkel i Knipa instead. It's a movie about teenage life which is easier to relate to, much funnier, and oh, it doesn't suck. Unsurprisingly that film came from Denmark, a country which is so much better at movie-making than Sweden, it's embarrassing.

A wonderful movie about the teenage girl Sofie that has just started high school and walks into the world of growing up. Sofie goes to a party where she and her friends gets a little bit too much to drink, especially Sofie that falls asleep. While Sofie is sleeping some guys from school is taking pictures of her naked under her skirt. The next day when she wakes up and goes to school she find out that everybody is calling her for a whore and talking lies and bullshit behind her back. Not even her friends are helping her anymore, she lost it all. Its a beautiful movie about being a teenager and learning about friendship and love. Just have to see it!!

... this was NOT a good teenage movie: this was a good movie, period! A very good movie. Looks like there is a very fine tradition for intelligent and sensible teenage movies on the make right now in Sweden, and I am thinking of Lukas Moodysson's "Show Me Love" (everybody knows the original title I suppose...). Anyway, back to Teresa Fabik's film. Poignant, forceful, amusing, clever, well-structured. Amazing direction, amazing young actors, not to mention a gorgeous Amanda Renberg. With great performances. Not for the faint-hearted who are afraid to face to what their children have to face every day, not for those who are looking for some light-weight entertainment, and certainly not for people who want their movies like their lives: black or white and nothing in between.

This film deals with many problems that teenagers go through growing up. These are dealt with in a realistic way, unlike Hollywood films where everybody rides around in BMW's and dresses in designer clothes. The actress that plays the lead in the film gives a stunning performance. The film does contain a few clichés, but if it was not for these I do not think it would of become so popular and probably never released outside of Finland. The music really sets the tone for the piece and captures the zeitgeist. I think both the director and some of the actors have bright futures ahead of them. Go and see this film and decide what you think.