The simplest stories are the most powerful, further affirming that its not obtrusive or garish ornaments that are essential for a skilled narrative. Following in the same vein of simplicity, Young, Young Men opens on the first day of an English summer. The bright sun and its warmth are clear metaphors for the zest of youth which further comes to include a sense of uncertainty, peer pressure and a desire to mean something to an aspirational clique of people.
Refreshing in its attempt to introduce the viewer to a reality of the country which is not confined to London, it is a world where young boys, about to undergo a rite of passage without perhaps realising the fragility of the experience they are currently part of, find their way to a meadow where more of their peers will collect for a night of carefree fun. It is in this walk that the significant chunk of the narrative stretches its limbs. From disagreements to nausea to boyhood banter to an eventual assertion of their friendship, the walk includes it all.
The plot is beautiful in its effortless way which is devoid of any endeavours to be anything it's not. It does not take refuge in loud plot devices or forced sentimentalism. Instead, it manages to invoke a sense of nostalgia, wistful longing for a past gone by too fast, and endearment towards the naïveté and innocence of youth in the viewer. The chemistry between its two characters and the stunning visuals have a notable role to play in achieving this, as does the calm tone and gradual pacing of the film.
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