The rest of the cast is also quite good. As the winner of last year’s Teen Spirit Ruairi O’Connor is confident and cocky in a relatable, and slightly annoying way. Grochowska is great as Violet’s mom. Violet comes home late one night and sees a man walking her horse down the driveway. She freaks out and runs to her mom in the kitchen. The camera looks on in from the outside, and the physical gestures of Grochowska during this sells both the necessity of the sale and the heartbreak it caused. It is a powerful moment that says a lot about both she and Violet; and both actresses nail it perfectly.
Teen Spirit tells an old tale, but Max Minghella’s incredible directorial debut is a technicolor, neon-drenched fever dream. It is told with remarkable visual prowess, jaw-dropping editing, a soundtrack to die for, career-best performances from its central cast, and most importantly, heart. This is not to be missed.
Teen Spirit (2019) Directed by Max Minghella. Written by Max Minghella. Starring Elle Fanning, Zlatko Buric, Agnieszka Grochowska, Ruairi O’Connor, Rebecca Hall. Teen Spirit screened at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival.
10 out of 10 Neon Lights
