𝑻𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑲𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒔 (2016) Miles Szanto, Daniel Webber

𝑻𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑲𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒔 (2016)
Starring: Miles Szanto, Daniel Webber
Genre: Coming-of-Age, Drama, LGBTQ+
Director: Craig Boreham
Rating: ★★★★☆

Teenage Kicks (2016) is a tender, moody, and emotionally raw coming-of-age story that quietly punches you in the heart. Set against the gritty, sun-baked backdrop of suburban Australia, the film explores grief, desire, and identity with fearless honesty and aching beauty.

Miles Szanto shines as Miklós Varga, a restless teenager grappling with the sudden death of his older brother, family tension, and a secret crush on his best friend, Dan (played with understated charm by Daniel Webber). Szanto delivers a powerful performance full of conflict and vulnerability—one that never slips into melodrama but resonates with quiet truth.

The emotional tension between Miklós and Dan is palpable—charged with intimacy, confusion, and the unspoken longing of youth. Their friendship is the film’s emotional core, unraveling through late-night conversations, stolen glances, and moments where words aren’t enough.

Director Craig Boreham handles the film’s themes with nuance and restraint, letting the silence between characters speak louder than exposition ever could. The cinematography is washed in soft golden hues, capturing the fragile beauty of adolescence and the sharp edge of emotional volatility.

The soundtrack pulses with indie rock, lo-fi beats, and melancholy acoustic notes—mirroring the turbulence and stillness that coexist in Miklós’s world. Whether he’s wandering train tracks or diving into a swimming pool to escape his thoughts, every frame feels like a snapshot of a boy on the verge of becoming something else.

Verdict:
Teenage Kicks is a quiet triumph—a poetic, heartbreakingly honest film that explores the messy, beautiful truth of growing up queer, grieving deeply, and learning how to live when the world feels like it’s falling apart. Miles Szanto delivers a breakout performance that lingers long after the credits roll.