Teenage Kicks

I could not stop watching it. The story line was incredible, the acting remarkable and very true to the reality of a struggling 17 year old trying to find where he fits in the world.

Just on the related section here there is DROWNING (2009), exactly the same movie, with the same main actor but all the other ones were replaced

The title "Teenage kicks" seems a strange choice for the kind of movie that this is, it sounds cheap and suggestive, something like a Larry Clark movie, while in fact it's an extremely serious, sincere and touching movie that really grabs you by the throat. It's about Mik, a young Australian boy from immigrant background, who has a very strained relationship with his parents, which deteriorates even more when his older brother is killed by a traffic-accident for which the father holds Mik responsible. Mik also has to cope with the fact that his best friend Dan, for whom Mik has a secret crush, gets involved with a girl, so Mik feels suddenly excluded and alone, and he starts a chaotic quest for recognition and affection.

It's basically a coming-of-age story: dealing with guilt, with confusing sexual feelings, and with conflicts among family and friends. Actor Miles Szanto is excellent and totally convincing as the tormented Mik. In spite of Mik's at times bad choices and his impulsive tantrums, you team up with him from the start and at many points in the movie his forlornness breaks your heart. There are harsh moments, but also moments of haunting beauty, like the sexual encounter that Mik has with an anonymous guy, where he for the first time experiences the glory of sexual fulfillment. It's a lot to divulge, but Boreham brings it all with great feeling and compassion.

In the end I would have liked to see some sort of positive conclusion or catharsis for Mik, especially concerning the relationship with his father. Well, maybe Boreham didn't intend any conclusions, it's simply life, where conclusions are not guaranteed.

Anyway: highly recommended.

Miles Szanto gives an adequate performance in this film that has the unfortunate title of ' Teenage Kicks ', and it sounds like a title from a 1950's exploitation flick; the type of film usually banned in the UK and surely too in Australia. One reviewer compares it to ' L'Homme Blesse ' written by Herve Guibert and made by the great Patrice Chereau. I suggest that ' lost ' film should be viewed again to see what I may have missed, and unlike this film it was made by a great and controlled director who was more focussed than the director who made this. Frankly ' Teenage Kicks ' is a mess. Szanto is too old to be a 17 year old, and the fact that he is conflicted over his very confused homosexuality bored me to tears. It is has one unfortunate line in it when he tries to kiss his ' best ' friend, and after the friend hits him the angry friend says, ' f...K you, Mic '. Unfortunate given the circumstances. For those who get turned on easily there is a lot of male bottom showing, and bouts of simulated masturbation that just ended up coy and repetitive. I had absolutely no sympathy for this ' elderly ' 17 year old and his confusions. There is one scene ( brief ) of homosexual fulfilment and many scenes of rather ugly sexuality. The description of two slugs having sex was genuinely enlightening, but the rest was not. There is a male rape in the film that would have astonished the slugs especially as the rapist seems sorry afterwards!!! The film ' Sauvage ' came to mind, but not to this film's benefit. 4 for the attempt to make the Australians aware of complexities about homosexuality, and saddened it does not (for me ) succeed.

Great Acting. Great Script. Clever Editing. Great Direction - Great film! So moving. Brings up all the feelings of being a teenager and being hit by life when you are young and inexperienced. Loved the Sydney atmosphere. The Actors are all perfect. Perfectly nuanced and realised. I really loved this film although it was sad and hard to watch sometimes. Excellent drama.