The Rite of Spring

I thought I understood this movie. As such, I felt a bit let down by the ending. Then I read another review here and I realized that I know too little of this subject to properly review this title.

So, in a clumsy attempt to recommend this film, I'd begin by stating that it's an interesting character study and a coming-of-age story, decently acted and well written, raw and simplistic in it's production, as such a movie should be. The plot seems simple but develops and expands nicely, to the point that we don't actually get to know the ending before the credits roll, which is refreshing. Being accustomed to the Hollywood formula of movies, I foolishly thought that I did know, so it was particularly titillating to experience the surprising conclusion which, after an initial moment of vexation and a bit of pondering, I found very fitting and well written.

The relevant characters are, well, I would say that they're exaggerated versions of real people, done right and with effect but somehow, especially in the context of the film, they didn't seem overly exaggerated. Regardless, it was refreshing to finally watch a teenager grow and mature in a movie without knowing whence they started and where they'll end up.

I found the subject of disability handled quite heavy-handedly. Some details were exaggerated, others, underplayed and it slightly diminished the experience by thickening the line between film and reality. That being said, I did truly enjoy the message, well, the message I understood from it: that disabled people are just like the rest of us, with the same needs, the same qualities and, most importantly, the same failings as everyone else. One notable difference, which this film touches upon, is that they're sometimes experience-starved and not always chastised for their mistakes as most of us are, thus they often don't "grow out" of their immature ways.

All in all, this movie was a pleasant surprise and I highly recommend it. It has certainly rekindled my interest for low-budget, European productions. More importantly, it confirms the idiom: less is more. Hollywood, take note!