TEEN SPIRIT

UK/US, 2018, 93 minutes, Colour.

Elle Fanning, Agnieszka Grochowska, Zlatko Buric, Rebecca Hall.

Directed by Max Minghella.

Elle Fanning made two films in Britain in the later 2010, How to Talk to Girls at Parties and Teen Spirit. The former was a fantasy about aliens in nightclubs. The latter is about television competitions to discover singing talent.

The film is directed by Max Minghella, son of Anthony Minghella, who also has a career as an actor, Jigsaw – Spiral, The Handmaid’s Tale,

The initial action is on the Isle of Wight, a Polish refugee family, mother and daughter, working on a farm. The daughter has a singing talent, sings locally, in clubs, in a choir. A former opera singer from the Balkans, Zlatko Buric, living somewhat is a vagrant and drinking, sees her talent and offers to be her manager.

The film shows a range of auditions, competitiveness, the young woman needing more time, the old man coaching her, further competitions and, ultimately, going to London.

But, the young woman’s life is complicated, her absent father, her concerned mother, the pressures of the competition, her going out on the town, clashing with her coach, needing him and his final response to her.

Familiar material but interesting to see in the career of Elle Fanning and her versatility in performances.

1. A film for younger audiences? Characters, hopes and ambitions? Music and performance?
2. British film, the settings on the Isle of Wight? Farms and work, homes, pubs, streets?
3. The musical score, the range of songs, Elle Fanning singing her own songs, clubs, auditions, television? The Opera excerpts in the background?
4. The title, the British television talent show? Emphasis on teens? And their spirit?
5. Violet’s story? Coming from Poland to Britain, the absent father, the chain, the mother’s gift, her wearing it, taking it off for the final performance? Letting her father go? Her relationship with her mother? Work, income, talking Polish? The details of her work on the farm, with the animals?
6. Violet and her singing, at the clubs? The encounter with Vlad? His offering to help, the lift home, her wariness? His opera background, drinking, failure? Her taking up his offer, his advice, coaching? Going to the auditions? Singing, shy, the judges, response, advice? The continued practice? Introducing Vlad to her mother? The later visits, his bringing the flowers?
7. Violet, friends, musicians, getting ready for work, in the workplace? Her ordinary life?
8. Inspired by Teen Spirit, going for the audition, performance, the three finalists, the judgement for the alternate singer? Her rejection? Upset, anger? The phone call, the disqualification, her acceptance, tantalising Vlad and telling him?
9. The preparations, travelling to London, the accommodation, Vlad and his support? The rehearsals, meeting the other candidates, make up, clothes, choreography?
10. Jules and her cohort, the discussions about the contract, the possibilities, binding, issues of what to lose? Vlad and his disagreement? The further discussions, Violet and her mixed feelings?
11. The credibility of her breaking out, the make-up, the dress, going to the club, flirting, drinking, over the top? Vlad arriving, carrying her out? The clash between the two, his going to the park, drinking?
12. The final, the preparation, phone call to her mother, violets regrets? Going on stage? Vlad returning, the support? The vitality of her performance, winning? Turning down jewels in the contract?
13. Her mother and all the people in the town watching the television?
14. The popularity of television talent shows – in this kind of variation on the theme?