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Greetings again from the darkness. One of my (many) pet peeves involves movies where we are supposed to believe a couple finds eternal love after barely spending any time together. Now I fully understand some artistic license must be taken in love stories, as there are only a couple of hours to work with, but the challenge is making the audience believe it. For the films that do it right, it's a thing of beauty.

Macedonian-Australian writer-director Goran Stolevski handles this expertly in his first film since the excellent (and much different) YOU WON'T BE ALONE (2022). A frenetic opening pace has 17 year old Kol (Elias Anton) panicking when his best friend Ebony (Hattie Hook in her first feature) phones after a wild night of partying. The two are supposed to be in the finals of an amateur ballroom dancing contest. Kol gets a ride from Ebony's older brother Adam (Thom Green), and as the two search for Ebony, a natural bond begins as easy conversation covers numerous topics. When Adam matter-of-factly admits he's gay, Kol's nervous energy shifts into overdrive.

This bond only has a 24-hour window to blossom, as Adam is headed to South America for graduate studies. But what a 24-hour period it is. The two men continually cross paths, and so much is conveyed with very few spoken words. Glances, body language, and eye-contact are all that's needed. That opening period takes place in 1999, and we then jump ahead to 2010. My, how time and age changes things ... and yet, doesn't.

We often see the fallout from unrequited love, but what of 'partially' requited love? Few films have better captured longing and emotional pain. We feel the aching and see it on Adam and Kol. Many scenes take place in a car, adding to the closeness and feeling of magnetic pull. For me, director Stolevski utilizes a few too many close-ups, although the approach does add to the intensity of some moments. The film may not be heavy on plot, but the emotions are strong enough to keep us invested.

Opens in theaters on February 10 and expands on February 17, 2023.

This is an outstanding Australian film, the lead actors Thom and Elias give phenomenal performances with some outstanding wit and humour that balances the heartbreak and devastation that both men feel. Rarely do I walk away from watching a film that felt like I had been given the chance to be part of the lives of two people, that was this film. It is a very sad film that depicts the impact people can have on one another in a raw and really realistic way. The aspect ratio didn't bother me, I wonder why people struggle with that but I felt it made you focus more on the characters in front of you. Fantastic film that I highly recommend to anyone, not necessarily only gay men.

The central characters give two of the most captivatingly watchable, magnetic acting performances I have seen in quite a few years.

This is a bitter sweet romantic story of first love/ infatuation which is unfolded slowly but with great charm and feeling. The script and acting are subtle, astutely observed and ultimately very moving. Some of the small details - like the way Adam imitates Kol's sighs, or the stolen glances of attraction across the car demonstrate beautiful observation, the substantial skill and impactful screen presence of the actors and a very well crafted script.

Overall I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this film - I ended up watching it twice in a couple of days.

Enjoyed the movie, loved the feel of it. Nice to see more quality Gay movies coming out and definitely would recommend it. Love independent style/drama type of movies. But the one thing I didn't like was the Aspect Ratio. We all have wide screen TVs in this day of age and Directors should respect that. It's been a few movies to have a Tube TV aspect ratio and I just find this insulting to the viewer. Wide screens allows more beautiful scenery and to have a ratio of 4:3 is ridiculous. Isn't it IMAX that would show such ratio ??? Well this isn't an IMAX movie and I was disappointed not to have seen this movie in Widescreen. I gave a 5 for the movie because of the aspect ratio chosen, but if it were a widescreen I would have give a 7, maybe an 8.

I found this film to be mesmerizing.

The film begins at a frantic and somewhat hysterical pace but shortly after tetreats into a long dialogue between two young men. The director focuses with close ups of both men Their expressions and their magnetic attraction to each other gradually become apparent. The actors handled the long periods dialogue with incredible skill and sublety. Their performances are some of the best film acting I've seen in a long while.

This film is deeply romantic but also profoundly realistic. Interestingly the actors do not wear any makeup during most of the film.

In short, it is a beautiful, realistic and heart felt film experience.

This movie is proudly Australian and shows how bonds can last, it is about the sex by the connection humans being can transcend, ThomGreen and Elias Anton are superb and story can be slow and all I wanted as a wide frame of the camera in the performances.

Pros 1. The acting 2. Thom Green 3. It's Australian babe.

Cons 1. The story can sometimes seem slowly but I strong believe it is worth to see where those characters are.

2. Short frames on faces, I did want a wide shot now and then 3. Some of the scenes were too dark in the light

You can stop reading now as I believe my review covers what needs to be covered.

Of an Age exists in the thin line between comedy and tragedy, a slice of life at two critical moments of Kol's story that while narratively is very particular to it's time and space, holds a universal application of exploration, acceptance, love and ultimately being at peace with the choices we make and those we had no say in, sometimes we carry a single moment forever and even the briefest chance to revisit it, while heartbreaking, holds a sweet catharsis.

Thom Green and. Elias Anton have a natural chemistry that is undeniable from the first furtive glances, through the gradual transition from casual shared interests to deeper questions of identity.

Goran Stolevski has constructed a beautiful film that can be claimed by so many as their story, even a world away. We can all find shared experiences in films set in places we've never been, as Kol does.

It is rare that I rate a movie let alone write a review but I felt compelled to do so after watching 'Of an Age'. The relationship between the two main characters, Adam and Kol, was so emotionally raw you could feel it from the moment they met. It isn't often that you see a same sex relationship portrayed on the big screen, let alone in such a beautiful way as the director Goran Stolevski did. I cold feel what Kol felt with the initial goodbye. I could feel what he felt when they reconnected in the airport. The last scene blew me away and reminded me that your first true love always holds a special place in your heart. Even if it was for a fleeting moment from days gone by. I'd strongly recommend this movie if you love the romance genre. Have added Elias Anton and Thom Green to my favorites on IMDB as I can't wait to see what else they've done and what is to come! Adding this one to my top 10 favorites of all time!

Opens with too much swearing and apparently 'arty' shaky camera angles plus the location scouts seem to have found the worst parts of Melbourne - it doesn't let up. The overall impression is this is someone's vanity project and any sense of connection with the actors is difficult to find and the characters are hard to like. What could have been a love story with a gritty edge was spoiled by an apparent need to be 'street' and became an instant turn off. The second half is certainly better than the first but overall, just another expletive laden, trashy film to add to Australia's reputation of a 'once was' producer of quality films.

The absolute best movie i have ever watched. It's completely life changing and a comfort movie. I am never the same when i watch it. The overall cinematic experience is astonishing. This movie is not talked about enough for its breathtaking atmosphere and story. The queer representation is gorgeous and i cannot explain how the connection between kol and adam makes me feel. If i had to watch a movie over and over again for the rest of my life, it would definitely be of an age. I wish there was a sequel to the movie showcasing their love for each other even more. The last line of the movie always breaks my heart and i can only wonder how their lives continue. I love this movie sm.

In 1999, Kol is an aspiring dancer, a Serbian refugee living in Australia with his single mother and members of the Serbian community. On the morning of his final dance exam, his dance partner, Ebony, awakes to find herself alone on a relatively remote beach after a night of partying. Eventually, Kol manages to get Ebony's older brother Adam to come to their rescue, though not in time for the exam.

The road trip chatter between the guys include books, music, and plans. Adam is going to Buenos Aires tomorrow, being interested in Latino men, and inspired by the gay friends in the movie Happy Together. At some point, Adam has his shirt off while driving. Various events over the day has a never-thought-he-was-gay Kol getting very interested in Adam.

Over a decade later, they meet again at Ebony's wedding, where they compare their life stories since their whirlwind romance.

I credit the writers for nicely threading the needle for the dates - the Serbian war, the movie, and the different dates gay marriage was legalized in different countries. The acting is solid, and Kol starts with a nice dance sequence.

I did find the Australian accents a bit hard to follow. Also, Kol just does not seem to be the 17-year-old he is supposed to be in 1999.

I have watched thousands of movies in my life and the vast majority I could watch again and not remember I ever saw them. The list of those movies which have touched me is in the end fairly limited. "Of an age" is definitely such a movie. The acting of Thom Green and Elias Anton is absolutely phenomenal, the story is insanely human and beautiful and I end up in tears and sobbing. The close-ups make the movie extra intimate and since the acting is so good, you are really with them, in the car, sharing their feelings. To me, the movie is really about how "timing" means everything in life (in any aspect of our lives really); the movie also shows how much sheer beauty there can be in us, humans. Some days, you kind of forget about that with all the hatred all around us. This movie is a gem and the director obviously must have thrown some of his own life experience in there....

It's not the best or worst LGBT story out there, it's on the more sad side, like many other film festival movies are, it's an over all good movie, sometimes the timeline is too chaotic, also we jump from one scene where we are close on the faces, one have huge pimples, and the next scene on the same day or so, they are magical gone. However I like they are more natural looking than many Hollywood productions. Sometimes it is hard to hear what they say, but that's maybe the price to pay for the intense acting, and it is for sure the great acting that make this movie something, but hardly one I will remember I have watched in a handful of years.

Of An Age is a depiction of a relationship between an openly gay man and someone who is in the process of self discovery, but this is just an underlying element and not what drives the narrative. It reminds us that love in its entity is the same for every human being. This was truly and profoundly the most relatable, raw and honest portrayal of love I have come across in film.

From the moment it started, I was fully immersed. The intense connection between Adam and Kol only strengthened as the narrative unfolded - building to a crescendo that leaves you feeling somewhat lost, but hopeful at the same time. Very few have nailed it the way Stolevski did, especially with a dialogue-driven script.

This was a brilliant piece of Australian cinema that deserves to be seen. Great work.

Character development was dull along with the writing to the story. Could I have a less interesting introduction? There are many movies with a similar story and you could have a much better experience and happiness with the film. The filming was not done so well which is absolutely great if its not, but It did not come off as enjoyable or plausible. The need for movies just like this is to keep the industry alive but is killing it at the same time. I took the time to make a night of dinner and movie for myself and my partner yet this was a failure because we turned it off and watched a disney movie instead.

So I went into this with the talk of the town, but mainly from the film industry and the fact that the film is up for accolades in the awards season. The film is shot well, even though the 4:3 ratio BOX non widescreen format is being overused so it can be seen as stylized filmmaking. The film has a nice color and look regardless. The actors were fantastic but most especially Elias Anton in particular. The film is score is beautiful as is the song soundtrack. Starts of good in say the first 15-20 in but then the first half falls on its arse. The fact that you have multiple talking scenes in cars while driving and the dialogue is mundane, boring and uninteresting, it could have been 20 min shorter. There are many pacing issues with the film and lots of too quiet (arty) beats and pauses that don't really move the story forward. Special mention to Hattie Hook for a special performance and the whole ensemble cast. Overall, the second half of the film performed better, I didn't feel the emotion the film was trying to portray, I felt it was slightly forced, I felt the character development was not developed enough and then when the film jumps a decade it just felt off. Overall, the director is a good storyteller, not great but once again it's a film with an agenda about a minority that's had a lot of support and funded by Screen Australia. I feel this years AACTAS are a big miss, look at the films such as Monolith, Streets of Colour, Damage, The Cost which didn't get nominated for AACTA awards and should have. This film is an ego-driven film about the director and the general public wouldn't watch this or rate this up there. I recommend watching The Cost.