Dreng

Very watchable coming of age movie... not too intense and story progressed quite quickly. It would have been a bit more enjoyable if the viewer was teased with the romance until the point where it could no longer be waited for as often depicted in French movies.

The characters progressed from their first meeting into the romance stage fairly quickly. Sanne made her role very believable, exuding the sensous seductive older woman she was to be even without uttering a word with her first scene. Christian's mother showed what a great actress she with her performance as a stong and vulnerable mother.

My expectation from this film, before I started watching it, wasn't that high. I assumed it would be in line with so many of its genre. But then, I was slapped with its realistic setting, pace and tone. The film doesn't try to pose or show off and that's what I most liked about it. Watching it, you'll feel the thoughts, hesitations, uncertainty the characters are feeling and that will draw you nearer to the story. It was very down to earth and I'm sure, at the end, you will say to yourself, "yeah, it was bound to end like this."

The plot is trustworthy, even and runs smoothly, turns are logical and their motives/background is visible and comprehensible. Limited space where most of the scenes take place do stress the anxiety and distress present deep inside in all of the main characters (reasons are different though). The ending is expectable, but different way could have been peculiar, viewers are allowed to ponder beyond...

Performances are also pleasant, including supporting roles, although I was wondering why a 24-years-old was picked to play a 18-years-old (Sebastian Jensen looks somewhat younger, but still, a teen could have been chosen instead). My favourite performer here is Helle Merete Sørensen as mother.

Dreng is a good coming-of-age film worth distributing at least in Europe and North America. However, its title is rather trivial and uninviting for this.