★ 8 / 10
La Noche, me hace volver, enloquecer
Sisoycsar96
A BITTER, HARSH, TOUGH, AND ACID CHRONICLE OF MODERN ADOLESCENT SELF-DISCOVERY.I've seen this film twice and felt the same way again. Not every movie can feel…
A BITTER, HARSH, TOUGH, AND ACID CHRONICLE OF MODERN ADOLESCENT SELF-DISCOVERY.I've seen this film twice and felt the same way again. Not every movie can feel and experience things over and over again. You'll see why.We have the typical plot of first teenage love, but not from the typical traditional perspective we've all seen and heard endlessly. No. It goes beyond that: a boy who seems to have a boring and lonely life until he's "forced" to go to his grandparents' house for the summer. Then a series of circumstances force him to sink very low; very low, I would say.The performance of newcomer Danish actor Noa Risbro Hjerrild as Tobias does tremendous and reverential justice to his role. For his age (as far as I know, she was the same age as him in his role), his staging is masterful. The characterization of his role makes it clear that he lived his life to the fullest, without taboos or censorship. It must have been a bit difficult at times (in fact, you can tell he himself is uncomfortable in the tougher scenes; only with a good eye can you subtly notice it), because for someone his age, a film like this is a rather complicated challenge, not to say impossible to pull off successfully and fantastically. Bravo! He has a great future in his native Denmark, and I hope he stays that way. As for the other actors, they followed their paths quite naturally. While I'm familiar with the Nordic independent film scene, in Denmark, cinema is a bit more discreet but still direct in what it wants to show, and that was the case here. This was reflected in the superb performances of the cast, although Risbro takes most of the applause.It's not an easy film. It's rough and tough, like Teenage Kicks (Australia - 2023) and another Nordic film, Hearstone (Iceland - 2016). But all the emotions, discreet like good Nordic cinema, are conveyed at a somewhat slow pace, so much so that the casual viewer might tire, but I don't think the director cared. Rather, he did it intentionally to show us, with the patience of a monk, the ramblings of a poor young man.As a family member of someone with a mental illness, I can say that the protagonist's psychology is quite well realized. Both the director and Risbro played a complicated role for the novice actor's age, and he pulled it off masterfully. I was amazed at how they pulled it off. I don't know if it was because of the intensive acting preparation (if so, it must have been exhausting for Noa Risbro) or simply the natural personality of this new Danish actor. Either way, he gave an incredible performance, pushing the boundaries of acting and reaching the deepest emotions. The script, direction, and production were good, but like everything, it's not perfect.Perhaps the film's weak point is its length. Or the fact that key moments weren't fully explored, focusing more on the protagonist, to the point where he becomes omnipresent. Perhaps a deeper look at the other characters (especially Tobias's mother) would have elevated the film to another level, as the plot isn't bad. In fact, this is something that independent cinema has approached from different angles since this decade, and that's very positive, as complex themes like tough, hard adolescence should be more relevant to filmmakers everywhere.As I said, this film isn't for everyone. It was never intended to be that way. You have to be careful to watch it with the intention of "understanding what you're seeing without asking for so many explanations." A valid cinematic device as long as you have a sharp and insightful script that doesn't beat around the bush but gets straight to the point. Nothing more. And this was achieved despite some shortcomings.In short, we have a great film about adolescence, one that can also be tough, cold, harsh, and raw. A kind of social critique about the consequences of having young people as sensitive as us adults alone and without proper care. And any adult like me could have gone through something similar to what we see in this film. You can identify with it, and that's magnificent. The film has unique potential. One that won't easily be erased from your mind. And that's its great achievement.The title of my review is taken from the song "La Noche (La Notte)" by Yoskar Sarante.
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★ 7 / 10
The Unvarnished Truth
drakeking1
"Bruises of Yesterday" is a film that doesn't ask for a lot of your time-it clocks in at just under 90 minutes-but it demands a great deal of your emotional…
"Bruises of Yesterday" is a film that doesn't ask for a lot of your time-it clocks in at just under 90 minutes-but it demands a great deal of your emotional presence. This is not a feel-good film. It's a descent, a profound and unflinching look into the depths of significant mental anguish. The film masterfully explores a mind in turmoil, and the result is a tough but undeniably compelling watch. This is a story that defies easy categorization. While it features a young man grappling with his identity, to call it an LGBT romance would be a gross mischaracterization. Instead, it is a raw and challenging portrayal of a soul in freefall. The narrative is a disquieting journey into the heart of self-harm, self-loathing, and a profound, bone-deep loneliness. It's an intimate study of someone on a significant downward spiral, and the film does not shy away from the difficult realities of that experience. The young actor in the lead role delivers a commendable performance, navigating the complex emotional terrain with a quiet intensity. His portrayal feels authentic, capturing the fragility and despair of his character without ever veering into melodrama. If you are looking for a heartwarming and genuinely uplifting LGBT romance, I would highly recommend the 2024 coming-of-age masterpiece "Young Hearts." That film is a brilliant and tender exploration of love and connection. "Bruises of Yesterday," on the other hand, is for those willing to confront a darker and more painful side of the human condition. It's a film that leaves a mark, a mirror held up to the painful realities of internal struggle, and for that reason alone, it is a significant and worthwhile piece of cinema.
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hardsubbed