Of An Age (2022) [Blu-ray review]

The thrills and confusion of adolescent love take center stage in the poignant new Australian indie drama Of An Age. This sensitive chronicle of a teenager’s sexual awakening manages to feel nostalgic yet progressive in its compassionate approach to intimacy and identity. Now available on Blu-ray after a successful festival run, Of An Age announces exciting new talent in writer/director Goran Stolevski.

Led by a magnetic debut performance from Elias Anton, the film traces class clown Kol and his growing infatuation with a Melbourne ballet student amidst the backdrop of 1999. Stolevski deftly captures the heady emotions of a first crush with humor and heartbreak. Surrounding the teen romance are vivid characters wrestling with their own desires. Of An Age ultimately crafts an ode to our universal search for human connections.

While LGBTQ stories have broken into the mainstream, Of An Age still feels bracingly fresh in its casual queerness. This added representation gives the film’s universal rites-of-passage an inclusive new dimension. Now on home release, this singular coming-of-age tale provides a touching reflection on young love in all its knotty complexity.

An Endearing Debut Anchored by Anton’s Star Quality

First-time writer/director Goran Stolevski displays remarkable assurance, eliciting naturalistic performances from a cast blending newcomers and Australian screen vets. But it’s newcomer Elias Anton who rightly earns MVP status in his first major role.

With his brazen confidence mixed with brewing sensitivity, Anton makes the mercurial Kol utterly believable and compelling. We effortlessly believe Anton as both class clown and secretly romantic hero. His scenes courting his crush manage to be endearing, amusing and sexy.

Surrounded by talents like Hattie Hook and Thom Green, Anton announces himself as a charismatic leading man in the making. He grounds the film’s featherlight tone with genuine emotional truth. Of An Age heralds the birth of a promising new star.

1999 Nostalgia with a Progressive Spin

Of An Age will hit the sweet spot for viewers who came of age around the late 90s and early 2000s. From frosted tips to Nokia bricks, Stolevski affectionately captures the styles and tech of the era. Yet the film marries nostalgia with an inclusive perspective that avoids regressive tropes.

Kol’s flirtation with ballet student Ebony unfolds with refreshing matter-of-factness regarding his queerness. Their bond transcends gender and forms organically based simply on mutual affection and attraction. Stolevski’s light touch addresses social pressures with nuance rather than preachiness.

This allows the film’s coming-of-age story to feel both timeless yet distinctly of the moment. Of An Age celebrates the magic and butterflies of young romance while subtly challenging lingering stigmas.

Cinematography Captures Fleeting Moments

Shooting on vintage lenses, cinematographer Stefan Duscio creates images as vibrant and dreamy as hazy adolescent memories. Slow zooms and gentle steadicam movements provide an almost trance-like sense.

Stolevski frequently frames his characters at a slight distance, giving scenes an abstracted theatricality. Sun-splashed pastoral settings paired with the camera’s graceful movements exude nostalgic beauty. We feel swept up in this fleeting moment of youth that the characters will one day romanticize.

The overall effect is transportive yet tinged with omniscient perspective – an immersive visual style that amplifies the complex emotions at play.

Blu-Ray Spotlights Emerging Talents

For fans of new independent cinema, this Blu-ray provides the perfect opportunity to discover Stolevski’s unique voice and this charming film’s charms.

A Touching and Timely Coming-of-Age Story

Smart, sensitive and uplifting, Of An Age announces Goran Stolevski as an exciting emerging cinematic voice. The writer-director brings great compassion and honesty to the joys and tribulations of young adulthood. Backed by magnetic performances, it celebrates our shared quest for human connection.

Now available on home release, this touching indie provides a refreshing update to the coming-of-age canon. Don’t miss the chance to discover a rewarding new highlight of queer cinema and the stellar debut of its young star Elias Anton. Of An Age feels both familiar and progressive in all the right ways.

Of An Age is now available. Purchase your own copy at MovieZyng!