Show Me Love
Original title: Fucking Åmål / Amul (1998)

Directed by: Lukas Moodysson | 89 minutes | drama, romance | Actors: Alexandra Dahlström, Rebecka Liljeberg, Erica Carlson, Mathias Rust, Stefan Hörberg, Ralph Carlsson, Maria Hedborg, Axel Widegren, Jill Ung, Lisa Skagerstam, Josefine Nyberg, Lina Svantesson, Johanna Larsson, Elinor Johansson, Jessica Melkersson, Bo Lyckman, Daniel Teider, Nils Björkman, Per Larsén, Kenneth Larsson, Karl Strandlind, Peter Teider, Linda Malmqvist

‘Fucking Åmål’ is a moving, realistic portrait of the life of young people in a provincial town. There is nothing to do, and out of boredom there is a lot of hanging out and drinking. Agnes has only lived there for a short time and she does not belong there. She has one girlfriend, also a girl who falls outside the group. And Agnes knows that she is only her friend for lack of other company. Agnes is not happy, cuts herself off from others and entrusts all her secrets to the computer. Her parents do their best for her, but cannot reach her. A birthday party is organized against her will, and Agnes tells her only guest (her friend) the truth, after which he immediately leaves for home.

Elin is the most popular girl in the class, but she is not happy either. She is looking for excitement and challenge, but it is not to be found in the village. Moreover, she is encouraged by her older sister to be very concerned with boys and her appearance. Although there is a big party where everyone goes, Elin and her sister decide not to go there, but to Agnes’s birthday party. There they get the suspicion that Agnes is a lesbian, and to act tough towards her sister, Elin kisses Agnes on the mouth.

This leads to great confusion for both girls. Agnes feels even more alone, confused but also determined to be herself. Elin dreams of Agnes, admires her but wants to avoid these feelings and enters into a relationship with a boy. Although they avoid each other, calling but breaking the line and getting out of the way, a rapprochement slowly develops between the two girls. With a beautiful toilet scene, Elin finally dares to admit that she has fallen in love with Agnes.

‘Fucking Åmål’ shows in an honest, pure and heart-warming way how young people search for themselves, for confirmation, how they want to belong, how they discover sexuality and how much courage it takes to just be yourself every now and then. With this beautiful sincerity and lifelikeness ‘Fucking Åmål’ can call itself a gem.

[imdb]tt0150662[/imdb]