We are the best! (Lukas Moodysson, 2013): Sweden

Reviewed by Robin Kadir at Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2014

Vi är bäst! (We are the best!) is about three 12 and 13 year-old girls named Klara (Mira Gorsin), Bobo (Mira Barkhammar) and Hedvig (Liv LeMoyne). Klara is a happy and active young girl who is not afraid to be honest about her opinions, while Bobo and Hedvig is a little more withdrawn and shy. Together the three girls enjoy each other company and pretty soon doesn’t care about what others may think. The three girls refuses to be like society tells them how girls in that age should be. But after starting up a punk-band, everything starts to evolve around being like society tells them punk-bands should act like.

It’s a trustworthy, sweet film directed by the great and successful Lukas Moodysson. I think most 13-year olds really can relate to this film more or less, no matter how their personalities or music-taste is like, since this film includes all problems you think you had when you were at that age. Embarrassed over your parents, jealousy, friendship-fights etc. That’s why it’s great for young girls, as well as young boys, to see this kind of films to understand that they’re not alone in the way of thinking when they feel sad about things, or think less of themselves. Because some scenes show these girls are experiencing discomfort or anxiety, and every teenager is experiencing this, and it’s a relief to know, in that young age, that you’re not the only one and things will always eventually turn around.

Something I found extraordinary in this film, was the acting from these expectant teenagers. This is the first movie they all participate in, and all three acted like they’ve done it for years, brilliant. Extra well done of Mira Gorsin, who plays Klara. Because that’s not an easy part to play and she really had me believe her. I think that’s what Lukas Moodysson brings out in expectant actors, he’s done it before in a movie called “Fucking Åmål” and now here in “We are the best!”. Let’s just say the future actor selection in Sweden is looking bright.

I definitely think people should go see this film the main target probably should be, as I said, young boys and girls, so parents should consider taking their children to go see this. It’s a heartwarming, realistic story that’s really worth watching. And even though it is listed as a drama genre, you really had a few laughs watching this, which, personally, I prefer most with films.