Only The Young

A beautifully composed snapshot of two teenage Christian skaters in Suburban California played out to old soul tunes.

When you watch the trailer for Only The Young, it’s not immediately obvious whether it’s fiction or documentary. This is a fuzzy area that CalArts graduates Mims and Tippet enjoy exploring in their debut feature, a beautifully composed snapshot of two teenage Christian skaters in Suburban California played out to old soul tunes. The frank, funny interviews with Kevin and Garrison plug you straight into adolescence,  and it’s clear that many hours were spent winning their trust and getting them comfortable on camera. The film’s real star, though, is their friend Skye, facing possible homelessness and wise beyond her years.

Showing with Echo (dir: Lewis Arnold, UK 2013, 18 mins), in which a teenage girl receives some bad news on the phone. Nicely crafted short from a Birmingham-born director who recently graduated from the National Film and Television School.