First and foremost, ‘Beautiful Beings’ (Original title: Berdreymi) is a beautiful movie. The tenderly narrated movie about 4 teenagers feels intimate attributable to how the digital camera captures them, apart from its mesmerizing performances. While their actions might not at all times be nice, the journey by way of their realizations is extremely well-told. Much like Lukas Dhont’s Close (one other shifting coming-of-age movie), it advantages from its intensely observational method that takes us by way of a comparatively easy journey in a charming method.
While watching the unfolding of chapters over a short time frame, you sense the facility of cinema as a medium. The manner this movie makes use of them manages to maneuver you thru a tapestry of feelings. It begins with an introduction to Balli (Áskell Einar Pálmason), a shy, reserved 14-year-old misfit who will get relentlessly bullied by his classmates. He ultimately suffers from the violent means they select to harm him. The tv broadcast exhibits it on the information to convey how teenage violence is rising at an alarming fee within the nation. That is when the movie opens up an introspection about this trigger whereas subtly revealing the completely different aspects.
Addi (Birgir Dagur Bjarkason), who initially mocks Balli for being a nerd, quickly empathizes with him and makes him part of his group of pals with Konni and Siggi. Those two are initially not open to letting him be part of their gang attributable to his popularity. They discover it onerous to permit somebody who’s meek and will get teased typically for his look and his persona. Perhaps it’s an inbuilt concern that his entry will make them appear weaker and vulnerable to vulnerability.
However, with Addi’s constant allyship, Balli quickly begins gaining confidence. He opens as much as them about his absent dad and mom and the way that leaves him chargeable for caring for himself in an adult-less home. He finds immense pleasure within the acceptance he slowly receives from these three teenagers, who attempt to open him as much as completely different sides of his persona. Meanwhile, we see the affect of irresponsible parenting on all of them, who search violence for not having discovered every other instruments to precise themselves. They scream and struggle as a approach to let go of their ache and anger, which might have benefited from a greater, extra wise outlet of expression.
Throughout the movie, we see the dangerous impacts of imposing gender-normative expectations. These youngsters see emotion as a software of defeatism whereas at all times making an attempt to carry again from being empathetic towards their embarrassments and emotional struggles. The movie gently showcases their anguish with out condemning their harmless errors whereas combating their very own demons. Through Addi, we see an emotional battle by way of his visions that open up the surreal world of his fears. He lives along with his clairvoyant mom whereas making an attempt to make heads and tails of his unusually symbolic, vivid desires. We see him come out of his shell and select compassion over the irrevocable affect of violence.
While following their respective journeys, the movie additionally focuses on the mutual sense of freedom they expertise whereas constructing their robust bond. Through the acquainted beats of bonding drama, it emerges as a stronger movie attributable to its well-rounded characters and a mature, wise understanding of the significance of their studying. The character arcs are well-defined to take us by way of different themes of abuse, molestation, emotional battle, and absent dad and mom whereas immersing us of their lives. Despite the familiarity of its story, this coming-of-age movie advantages from delicate and practical storytelling to deconstruct hyper-masculinity.
And regardless of switching between their particular person tales, the movie by no means loses its emotional efficiency, the place the credit score additionally goes to the good performing performances by its youthful set of actors. Birgir Dagur Bjarkason provides one of many most interesting performances from the 12 months to construct a journey from ignorance to emotional maturity whereas portraying Addi’s silent agony. He turns into the crux of the movie that bridges the hole between a bullied misfit and his uncared for pals.
Written and directed by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson, the movie exhibits brackets of mundane moments to current their unabashed pleasure the place they don’t want to cover behind a pretense. His method appears like a heat breeze or a delicate caress over these troubled teenagers. It is complemented by the movie’s cinematographer Sturla Brandth Grøvlen, who helps let the actors uncover these tender moments with out speeding.
Read extra: 125 Most Anticipated Films of 2023
Beautiful Beings (2022) Trailer:
Beautiful Beings (2022) Links: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes
Beautiful Beings (2022) Cast: Birgir Dagur Bjarkason, Áskell Einar Pálmason, Viktor Benóný Benediktsson
Where to observe Beautiful Beings
