We Are the Best!

Description

An exuberant depiction of girl power, Lukas Moodysson’s charming new film is set in 1980s Stockholm and focuses on three young teenagers who form a band. At first, best friends Bobo and Klara are just a scrappy duo, with a mutual disregard for gym class and their parents and a love of punk rock. Taking the ethos of their idols to heart, they stake a claim on rehearsal time at the local community center, ousting a group of rocker boys. Realizing their enthusiasm outweighs their ability, they recruit a pretty, longhaired acoustic guitarist named Hedwig and set their sights on a music competition called Santa Rock. Adapting a graphic novel written by his wife, Moodysson wonderfully taps into girlhood and the time of life when one’s musical tastes form the core of one’s being. Sexuality is also bubbling under the surface and when Bobo and Klara get a crush on the same guy, the film touchingly shows how even the closest of friendships can suffer under the strain. With a knowing eye for the era—fish sticks and mohawks—and a terrific soundtrack, We Are the Best! proves once again, in case it was ever in doubt, how fiercely girls can rock! —Rod Armstrong

Film Details