NAKED ANIMALS

Katja, Sascha, Benni, Laila, and Schöller are living in provinical German town. It’s their last winter before they finish school and need to decide whether to stay or leave. Between homework, smoking weed, and gossiping about relationships, they explore their feelings on the threshold of adult life.

With a visceral rawness reminiscent of Larry Clark’s classic Kids, Melanie Waelde’s debut embraces the passionate yet tumultuous bond of teenagers, full of kisses, cuddles, and even fistfights. Mostly shot in intimate closeups, the film lends a poignant gravity to the characters’ hopes and dreams.