A stunningly simple story well told
It's not often you come across a simple story told well. A story that goes nowhere in the traditional sense and quite simply, doesn't need to.
From the opening credits, Baglands draws you into the lives of a group of teenagers taking their first steps on the ladder of independence and adulthood. Centered around the stunning lead actress, Stephanie León it's familiar stuff - experimenting with sex, drugs, racist undertones, battling with their parents and the older generation who don't take too kindly to finding their daughter or younger sibling having sex under their own roof.
Set in modern day Denmark, Baglands doesn't fall into the trap of that clichéd dark and desolate portrayal of social decay usually prevalent in movies dealing with teenagers and drugs.
It also doesn't fall into the trap of *having* to go somewhere. That's one of the things I really liked about this film.
So many films that deal with similar subjects will inevitably drag you down a path for the sake of going down a path. In an attempt to make some profound statement. Baglands doesn't do that. It tells a simple story, very well.
The colours, soundtrack, simplicity in direction and pace of Baglands along with the stunningly beautiful lead (Stephanie León), who completely steals the screen, makes it well worth watching.
From the opening credits, Baglands draws you into the lives of a group of teenagers taking their first steps on the ladder of independence and adulthood. Centered around the stunning lead actress, Stephanie León it's familiar stuff - experimenting with sex, drugs, racist undertones, battling with their parents and the older generation who don't take too kindly to finding their daughter or younger sibling having sex under their own roof.
Set in modern day Denmark, Baglands doesn't fall into the trap of that clichéd dark and desolate portrayal of social decay usually prevalent in movies dealing with teenagers and drugs.
It also doesn't fall into the trap of *having* to go somewhere. That's one of the things I really liked about this film.
So many films that deal with similar subjects will inevitably drag you down a path for the sake of going down a path. In an attempt to make some profound statement. Baglands doesn't do that. It tells a simple story, very well.
The colours, soundtrack, simplicity in direction and pace of Baglands along with the stunningly beautiful lead (Stephanie León), who completely steals the screen, makes it well worth watching.
- fergusg
- 31 oct 2006