anne-881-529753

I thoroughly enjoyed this funny, clever movie about a girl coming of age and trying to create her life. I didn't know anything about the book, so I wasn't comparing it to that. I loved the scenes of Johanna discovering the music scene and her own voice as a teenager. The wall of Gods and her flights of fancy were fun and entertaining. The film beautifully conveyed the magic of music, clubs and bands and how they make you feel when you go to a live show in a small club especially for the first times when you are very young. The way the film showed and also poked fun at the boys club of the music and magazine scene was great. It also showed the darker side and the price she paid for admittance. I was rooting for her the whole time. The people in her family and in the music scene were all interesting to me and different in their own way, each communicated a lot emotionally even if their role in the story was small. The ending is fantastic.

Powerful (tragic) story with wonderful characters directed by new talent Saila Kariat. A must-see for parents of teens in high-pressure situations.