Nearing the closing weekend of the 2021 Glasgow Film Festival,I decided to go for one of the three "World Premier" screenings/streams taking place. Becoming curious about the title due to it being the only one of the trio I could not find any advance reviews of,I got set to meet my sweetheart.
View on the film:
Revealing in a interview with the two lead actresses afterwards that the film was shot in just three weeks,predominantly on a real holiday camp, writer/director Marley Morrison makes a superb coming of age, feature film debut.
Morrison overcomes the original cinematographer quitting in the middle of production, thanks to balancing stylish, over-saturated close-ups on the loved-up eyes of AJ's sightings of Isla, with the glorious un- sentimental image of the British holiday camp, with Morrison snapping hilarious antics in the confined living conditions of AJ and her family, and their attempt to get into the holiday spirit, under the dreary weather.
Mentioning in the discussion after the screening that she got the idea for the setting from it being a British working class tradition to spend Summer family breaks in a holiday camp, the screenplay by Morrison follows AJ's coming of a age with excellent characterization, which is unafraid to paint her in a less then flattering light during her moody bickering with family members, that cleverly heightens the rose-tinted glasses mind-set AJ has when she comes of age when falling head over heels for Isla.
Appearing in every scene, Nell Barlow gives a fantastic performance as AJ,thanks to Barlow bringing out a comedic edge to AJ's frustrations of being dragged along on this holiday, with a growing warmth to the growing bond with her family,and AJ's passionate, bitter-sweet embrace of Isla. Catching AJ's attention due to smelling of chlorine, Ella-Rae Smith gives an enchanting turn as Isla,which blends sweet hazy passions with raw frustrations,as AJ meets her sweetheart.
View on the film:
Revealing in a interview with the two lead actresses afterwards that the film was shot in just three weeks,predominantly on a real holiday camp, writer/director Marley Morrison makes a superb coming of age, feature film debut.
Morrison overcomes the original cinematographer quitting in the middle of production, thanks to balancing stylish, over-saturated close-ups on the loved-up eyes of AJ's sightings of Isla, with the glorious un- sentimental image of the British holiday camp, with Morrison snapping hilarious antics in the confined living conditions of AJ and her family, and their attempt to get into the holiday spirit, under the dreary weather.
Mentioning in the discussion after the screening that she got the idea for the setting from it being a British working class tradition to spend Summer family breaks in a holiday camp, the screenplay by Morrison follows AJ's coming of a age with excellent characterization, which is unafraid to paint her in a less then flattering light during her moody bickering with family members, that cleverly heightens the rose-tinted glasses mind-set AJ has when she comes of age when falling head over heels for Isla.
Appearing in every scene, Nell Barlow gives a fantastic performance as AJ,thanks to Barlow bringing out a comedic edge to AJ's frustrations of being dragged along on this holiday, with a growing warmth to the growing bond with her family,and AJ's passionate, bitter-sweet embrace of Isla. Catching AJ's attention due to smelling of chlorine, Ella-Rae Smith gives an enchanting turn as Isla,which blends sweet hazy passions with raw frustrations,as AJ meets her sweetheart.