As You Are, written and directed by Miles Joris-Peyrafitte - 8 out of 10

As You Are, written and directed by Miles Joris-Peyrafitte
8 out of 10


This is the age of the film about teenagers, their confused growing up, sexuality and homosexuality.
Call Me by Your Name has acquired more fame and appreciation, but As You Are deals with a similar theme.

Owen Campbell has the leading role of Jack.
He is an inexperienced boy of about seventeen that confessed at one point that he had never kissed a girl.

Or anyone for that matter.

Charlie Heaton - all three teenage actors are excellent- plays the role of Mark.
Amandla Stenberg has the third major part, that of Sarah.

To begin with, Jack and Sarah are very close.
Seeing their bond, Mark mentions kissing.

When Jack talks about his absolute ignorance on the subject, he gets advice.

Do not look straight at her, for that would be stupid.
See what she wants, when the right moment comes.

After this theoretical advice, Mark comes close for the practical part.
And the two kiss.

Passionately.

When discussing their friendship, Jack and Sarah come to the conclusion that they do not love each other.
Hence, after some time, the girl comes with Mark to meet their common friend.

Indeed, the three had already formed a loose threesome, a ménage a trois without sexual intimacy...well, not complete, without coital interactions.

Jack is appalled to hear that Sarah and Mark are now together.
There are some attempts to explain this...we are no longer together, we said we can see other people and so on...

Nevertheless, Jack is furious, mad with jealousy and desire.
He wants to kiss Mark, but he is pushed away.

In the ensuing kerfuffle, Mark falls to the ground and he hits hard his head against a rock.
He would be taken to the hospital in an unconscious state.

The film is presented with flashbacks.
A police investigator is asking questions and wants to know more about this incident.

Gradually, the audience understands that something else would happen...or had happened, depending on the scene on the screen.

If not on the same level with Call Me by Your Name, this motion picture is still interesting and challenging.