We Are The Best! (Vi at bast).

Was Punk dead in Stockholm in 1982? Most Swedish youth thought it was but two young teenage girls thought differently.  We Are The Best! (2013) is a comedy/drama written and directed by Lukas Moodysson who also adapted from a graphic novel Never Goodnight by his wife Coco Moodysson.

 

Bobo, Klara and Hedvig. 

 We first meet the shy boyish 13 year old Bobo (Mira Barkhammer) at her mother’s 40th birthday party, mum is a divorced ex hippie who does not seem to be able to form a permanent relationships with any one man. Bobo's can't hide her disinterest with the proceedings and leaves, joining her best friend and kindred spirit the outspoken 12-year-old Klara (Mira Grosin). The two rebels decide to buck the more modern teenage trends and form a punk band. The problem is although they have one improvised song about their hatred of sport[1] neither can play a note and they do not own an instrument between them. But at there youth club there is a rehearsal room which although it always seems to be occupied by a heavy metal band that calls it self Iron Fist there is a guitar and a set of drums that they could use. Now all they need is to find someone to join them who can play. To this end they enlist a Christian schoolmate Hedvig (Liv LeMoyne) who happens to be very talented guitarist. But she does not look the part so Bobo and Klara cut off her beautiful long blond hair (actually shorn on screen) much to the distain of her devout mother. All goes well until they arrange a meeting with a male punk band and both Bobo and Klara fall in love with its leader Elis, which for the first time leads to friction between the two girls.

 

“The atomic bombs blow up our cities, yet you want more tennis committees”

A heartfelt teenage feminist coming of age movie for all 12/13 year olds with spirit and those who used to be 12/13 year old with spirit. I’m sure we can all remember the freedom of youth – the time before mortgage worry’s and family responsibilities. This is a lovely film that brings the memories of adolescence into sharp focus. Well acted by the three strong, but inexperienced leads and unusually well received by the critics. It’s nice to see the 45-year-old Moodysson tackle a light-hearted subject, albeit one with depth, than the two films of his that I’m familiar with, Lilya 4-ever (2002) that deals with human trafficking and sexual slavery and his 2004 experimental drama A Hole in My Heart. We Are The Best is a really pleasurable experience that will certainly lift your spirits whatever age you are.

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[1] With lines like “The atomic bombs blow up our cities, yet you want more tennis committees”