Starring: Mia McKenna-Bruce, Lara Peake, Enva Lewis, Samuel Bottomley, Shaun Thomas
Distributor: Ahi films
Runtime: 91 mins. Reviewed in Mar 2024
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc
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Three British teenage girls go on a rites-of-passage holiday – drinking, clubbing and hooking up, in what should be the best summer of their lives.
There can be many responses to the straight-out, rather blunt title. The pruriently curious are likely to quickly lose interest. There may be those who think this an educational documentary – and, in some ways it is – a docudrama about school leavers, rituals of holidays and freedom, letting go. But many might suspect – and this is true – the meaning of the title is actually: ‘How not to have sex’
This film has made an impact in the UK but, especially in festivals around the world. It has received to date 43 awards and nominations, including winning the prestigious section at Cannes, Un Certain Regard. Walker has received awards and nominations for her writing and direction. McKenna-Bruce has also won awards for her central performance as Tara.
The target audience is teenage with the central characters aged 16. And, the focus is on the girls. This is the girls’ story, especially Tara’s. They go to Greece on holiday. It is an adventure and there is a sense of freedom. The first half hour of the film is almost non-stop partying, noise, music, adolescents making loud whoopee, so to speak.
Tara’s two friends, Skye and Em, enthusiastically urge Tara on, especially in terms of sexual experience. However, Skye is friendly but not particularly empathetic. Em, on the other hand, a clever student at school, is alert to Tara’s feelings and shows some sensitivity.
The two boys at the centre of the film share in the boisterousness. Paddy (Bottomley) seems fairly straightforward. On the other hand, Badger (Thomas) is multi-tattooed, drives a van, with blond tints in his hair, liking Tara, involving her in some raucous behaviour, but more sensitive to her.
Parents are barely mentioned. There is some communication by phone and text but otherwise they are absent. The director is reticent in dramatising the key sexual encounter at night on a beach. The film quietens, focuses on Tara, wandering, retiring to her room, rather bewildered, a 16-year-old who thought she might know everything finding that she does not know much at all about herself.
Which means that while the ‘Spring break’ shenanigans continue, the film focuses on Tara, alone, supported by Badger, trying to resist another encounter with Paddy, and everyone packing up to go home. Skye and Em having had the holiday that they were anticipating, but Tara, not knowing how to react, sometimes playing up to the expectations, but still upset in her own inner life.
Will the target audience just respond to the partying or think through Tara’s experience? And how would this film be helpful for parents, teachers, counsellors?
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