Film: Jitters

Doesn't matter where you come from, being an adolescent can be a challenging and confusing period in your life and Icelandic teenagers are not immune to this phenomenon as Baldvin Zophoniasson's Jitters demonstrates. A human film with some great performances from a very young cast, the story takes a look at many of the questions one asks oneself when growing up: questions about friendship, relationships (with partners and parents), sexuality and more. Although the issues raised are not solely restricted to those that affect teenagers, with a spotlight also on marriage and prejudice amongst the older generation.

Gabriel, a teenager of around 17, heads off to England one summer for a language course in Manchester. Studious and relatively naïve, he shares a room with Markús, of the same age but disinterested in the lessons and really there to have a good time. After the latter eventually persuades the former to head out on the town one night, they both drink a little too much and find themselves propped up against a tree in the middle of a park. Before they know it they are kissing one another - an event which will completely change the dynamic of Gabriel's social life back in Iceland.

Once back home, his parents notice a change in his behaviour and demand explanations. Not able to recount what happened to him in England and his new found sexual preferences, his relationship with his mother becomes extremely tense and he spends more and more time with his friends. Despite being an extremely close knit group, they do not remark any change in him and life goes on as normal until one day Markús reveals the truth. Even then, once it was all in the open, Gabriel is still confused but is lucky enough to have a very understanding entourage.

A simply filmed piece with strong characters and a perfectly adapted soundtrack, Jitters is a gem of a film which pretty much everyone can relate too, whether or not they have gone through the exact same scenario as Gabriel. There aren't many laughs in the film but it isn't too heavy either with just the right balance of pain, sympathy and compassion within the spectator by the end.

Available to buy on amazon.co.uk