Show Me Love is a rare movie. It is accurate in its depiction of teenagers both in terms to how the characters are written and also because its cast of actors genuinely look like they belong in high school. Achieving both these feats makes Show Me Love a simple yet remarkable film.
The movie follows Agnes, an angsty teen. Agnes is generally displeased with her parents, her small hometown, her lack of friends and generally with life. She also has an unrequited crush on Elin, a popular girl.
At a birthday party thrown for Agnes by her parents, Elin and her sister show up. Elin kisses Agnes on a dare. Despite this cruel start to their courtship, Elin apologizes to Agnes and the two bond. However, Elin experiences some gay panic and calls things off.
The film then comes its emotional climax in a school bathroom. It’s the best scene in the movie.
Show Me Love works because it successfully puts you in the headspace of being a teenager. The stakes in this movie are far from life and death. But to a teen, being embarrassed by the popular kid or having a crush on someone seems like the biggest pain you can experience. Show Me Love’s depiction of such events and characters is successful because it brings its audience back to a point in their lives where this was true and as such, we can empathize with the situation.
Show Me Love successfully walks the very fine line of realistic depictions of teenagers. There is the angst, the selfishness and the thoughtless cruelty that are trademarks of that age but movies often tone down. The movie does this while still making its protagonists likable and interesting.
I’ve seen a lot of movies where the teenagers act like no teen or real person I’ve ever encountered. I’ve also seen movies that lean too far the other way and their teen characters are too fraught with angst and self-interest that I don’t care about watching a movie featuring such whiny protagonists. Show Me Love is quite miraculously neither of these things. It is a true feat to have successfully walking that tightrope.
Show Me Love is an above-average coming of age film. Its protagonists are universally relatable; it doesn’t demand its viewer to be Swedish/queer/female in order to empathize with them. Overall, Show Me Love is one of best teen WLW dramas out there.
Overall rating: 7.8/10
Other WLW films in similar genres
European teen dramas
The angst that accompanies being in a small town
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