Film Reviews

Sounds Like Teen Spirit

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• Details: UK / 90mins (U).

A title like this is a tad misleading considering the material in this 'popumentary'; Sounds Like Teen Spirit is a documentary that follows four hopefuls as they battle it out at the Kids' Eurovision in Rotterdam. No sex, drugs and rock n' roll, then, but this has a charm that's undeniable.
Jamie Jay Johnson's camera settles on four parties in the run up to the competition: a 4-piece band from Belgium called Trust, who some believe are too old to take part since their ages range from 14-15 years of age; 10-year-old Cypriot George, who needs a win to show the bullies at home what he can do; Mariam (13) from Georgia believes that she is "responsible" for her country; and Bulgarian Marina, who hopes that her estranged father will watch and "realise what he is missing and come home."
Sounds Like Teen Spirit might be a little formulaic in its delivery, but it's got tons of heart. Their Eurovision might be competitive, but the friendly atmosphere at the event would win over even the most hardened of cynics; since they're the oldest, Trust take it upon themselves to shepherd the youngest through the nervous moments, helping their rivals through complicated dance steps. Nice, that. There are no egos here, either: "With the help of God, we'll finish 2nd or 3rd", says one competitor. Marina is by far the most interesting on show: at such a young age, she's had to mature to help her mother care for her younger sisters. However, with this maturity, she grows increasingly cold as the documentary moves on: "It's best to have no feelings because you can get hurt." This girl needs a documentary all of her own.
Despite the documentary-by-numbers Sounds... Can be accused of, something unexpected happens towards the end. Like the Eurovision itself, the excitement of the voting section takes over and you can't help yourself getting wrapped up in the whole shebang. A good laugh and a few tears shed, this a decent Saturday night's entertainment.

Review by Gavin Burke