As You Are 

This lyrical and ethereal film mixes the stark style of a crime story into a love story, capturing the highs, lows and the deepest, darkest recesses of grungy, stoned teenage life

Joris-Peyrafitte shows confidence and talent beyond his years, with an artful eye for imagery and a truthful ear for dialogue.

Without any period-specific music to help establish a sense of time and place-a real cultural backdrop-even the setting remains a little fuzzy.

Much of the movie, from its attempts to capture the confusing exhilaration of youthful experience to its predictable progressive character dynamics, is labored.

The setup is common enough, but though you can check off the usual ingredients in what follows - sex, drugs, a glance at Kurt Cobain - this is the furthest thing from a social-issue teen drama.

Captures the dreamy intimacy of those teenage relationships where boundaries between friendship and love prove porous.

At more than 100 minutes, it feels an hour longer thanks to shots that linger far longer than they've served their purpose.

Plays at emotional authenticity on subjects such as bullying and repressed homosexuality, however its reliance on a cheap murder mystery plot reveals its true aims.

The film is, above all, a striking and affecting expression of the desire, repression, and violence.

Miles Joris Peyrafitte makes an auspicious filmmaking debut with this gritty and compelling coming of ager.

This subtle but passionate essay on teenage identity and desire not only honours the Kurt Cobain school of teen spirit but brings something fresh and richly intelligent to the field of US independent cinema.

Although the big reveal suffers from an almost lethargic lead-up, the film's key moments are raw and affecting, a beautiful reminder of the courage it takes to understand, love, and accept your true self.