14 ans premier amour

There's something about Russian films like Czech ones that makes them, more often than not, very watchable. What should have been my least favourite type of film, a teenage romance is, in this case, a funny and touching film that adults can enjoy. The story couldn't be simpler, or more overdone. A boy (Lyosha) falls for a girl (Vika) and struggles to get her attention. In this case these are working class kids not the over privileged middle class ones usually portrayed in this type of movie. Add to this a permanent state of hostility between his school and hers and the dysfunctional parents they both have. My favourite character is Lyosha's mother who was clearly a young teen when she became pregnant with Lyosha and is more childlike than her son.

After having found a GIF with a scene from this movie, I was so intrigued to find its name and after some hours and asking around someone answered "14+ (First Love)". I can say that I haven't watched that much foreign movies to date, let alone Russian movies but this movie is a clear example that everything can surprise us. I was very pleased with the story behind it. Seeing how Alex is yet another example of a teenager that meets with the feeling of love, we can add this to the lists of movies that approach this subject. Its a love story yeah between him and Vika, which I can say, shes a gorgeous girl. Despite him being shy at the beginning and getting beaten by some thugs, he managed in the end to conquer Vika's hearth. This movie impressed me with the acting of the characters but after finding out that most of the acting was done without a script in mind, I was even more determined to like them. Watch this movie, its very pleasing and unique in its way. Even though we don't get to know much about Alex(besides that his dad left and he lives with his mom) or any other character, all of us can learn how to achieve love.

It's very relatable and brings back many memories. The director has beautifully portrayed the story in a very sweet manner. The music, the cinematography, the acting, all is so real, simple and beautiful in this film.

I watched this movie to create a moment of complicity with my 13 yo daughter (and to practice Russian). With different level of "reading" we were both amazed. The main actors have a mind-blowing talent. The subtility, fragility and intensity of the characters emotions is reflected by the esthetics of the movie taking place in this working class environment. So simple and so perfect at the same time, the layers of the mother's emotions are brought to us in a manner that is so simple and subtle at the same time. A real gem well hidden for us, non Russian cinema lovers. My daughter says she never saw teenagers emotions and "drama" so precisely depicted by "the world of adults" and with such kindness.

This movie is very sweet, pure and nostalgic at times. It ended so quickly, I wanted more. Very realistic feel to this Russian coming-of-age film. Reminds me a lot of Boyhood. Things work out a little too well at each step here, but that's not to say it's without drama.

The soundtrack is a lot of fun-gives it a similarity to Brat (which the film directly references). Great job representing the generational gap between mother and son and the complexities of communication. Her birds and the bees talk while he's zoning out with music blaring on his earphones is very nicely done.