Dating Amber – An Endearing Coming-Of-Age Story

It’s hard to make a good coming-on-age story. As there are so many out there, the genre somewhat loses its strength, especially because many treat teen life as a fantasy. We all have been there once in our lives, and most of us can agree it was not always smooth sailing. Dating Amber tells the story of two high school friends coming to terms with their own sexuality in 90’s Ireland. Afraid of coming out to their schoolmates, they pretend to be in a relationship, which ends up complicating things but also make them discover love and support in one another. The premise is quite simple, and the film uses it to its advantage. Instead of creating highly complicated twists or unrealistic behaviors, Freyne opted for subtlety and simplicity, making for a better experience.

His first right decision was casting an endearing lead duo. O’Shea and Petticrew as Eddie and Amber make for a commanding pair, doing great by themselves and wonderfully together. There is something quite magical in watching these two play off each other. Their friendship feels so organic one cannot stop cheering for them to be happy the entire time. They are fun and funny, but they are also quite heartbreaking. In the end, these are two kids who still don’t have to confidence to be who they are supposed to be, especially Eddie, who struggles so much in coming to terms with himself. Watching him fight his own desires and his fear of being outed is quite touching, and we can only hope the world will one day become a place where kids don’t have to be afraid of who they truly are.

Meanwhile, O’Shea and Petticrew are supported by a great cast of characters who are at the same time totally ordinary while standing out for their simplicity and humor. Dating Amber is a coming-out and coming-of-age story of these two kids, but it’s also an ensemble film we are accustomed to seeing from the UK. All characters have inner lives, flavor and interesting personalities. We are interested in seeing how they are relating to each other, and that is one of the most powerful tools a movie can have: to make us care for its characters.

With Dating Amber, Freyne creates a very personal experience. We watch these two kids coming to terms with who they are, and he also takes the story to an important point: when one of them becomes more comfortable with who they are than the other. That takes time and not everybody is ready at one, and they inevitably drift apart because of that. The script doesn’t overplay it, and again, makes it as human as possible, turning every little twist into an emotional ride.

In the end, Dating Amber is not an unforgettable movie but is quite a good experience to sit through.

still courtesy of Vortex Media

If you like this review, look me up on Instagram for more suggestions.

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

leandromatos1981