- Film Review
- Reviewed By Sloan Freer
-
3 out of 5
Rootless young bohemians search for emotional anchors in London's trendy East End in Argentine writer/director Alexis Dos Santos's sweet though slight mood piece. Demonstrating an idealism that matches that of its characters, this intimate indie traces the meandering fortunes of two angsty European expats (Fernando Tielve and Déborah François) whose paths briefly cross in an overtly stylised squat. Events unfold through a haze of alcohol, gigs and sexual experimentation, as Tielve arrives from Spain looking for his long-lost British father, while wistful Belgian eccentric François tries to heal a broken heart. Consequently, the tone veers between subdued reflection and quirky playfulness, as Dos Santos captures the confusion of youth, along with its vibrant optimism. Colour-saturated visuals and an eclectic soundtrack enhance the film's energy, creating an impression of freshness, despite the loose narrative's well-trodden themes and frequent clichés. Occasionally the material gets too self-indulgently arty but the way it lingers over the small moments of human interaction more than compensates.
Plot Summary
Comedy drama starring Fernando Tielve and Déborah François. Axl comes to London from Spain looking for his long-lost father, and moves into a bohemian squat in Hackney. There he befriends quirky Belgian girl Vera, who is looking for love.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Vera
- Déborah François
- Axl
- Fernando Tielve
- X-ray man
- Michiel Huisman
- Mike
- Iddo Goldberg
- Anthony
- Richard Lintern
- Hannah
- Katia Winter
- Alejo
- Alexis Dos Santos
- Lucy
- Lucy Tillet
Crew
- Director
- Alexis Dos Santos
- Share this episode
-