Movie spotlight
When It Melts
Many years after a sweltering summer that spun out of control, Eva returns to the village she grew up in with an ice block in the back of her car. In the dead of winter, she confronts her past and faces up to her tormentors.
Insights
Plot Summary
In the desolate Belgian Limburg region, a shy and overweight teenager named Eva experiences a summer of intense fascination and awkwardness. During a group trip to the South of France, she develops a fervent crush on the charismatic and conventionally attractive Bibi. This obsession takes Eva on a journey of self-discovery, navigating the complexities of love, identity, and the harsh realities of her own desires.
Critical Reception
When It Melts has been praised for its raw emotional honesty and its sensitive portrayal of adolescent yearning and body image issues. Director Veerle Baetens delivers a powerful debut that resonates with its relatable themes of unrequited love and the painful process of growing up, though some found its unflinching depiction of obsession to be challenging.
What Reviewers Say
A deeply felt and unflinching exploration of adolescent obsession and self-discovery.
Praised for its authentic performances and raw emotional portrayal.
The film's brave handling of sensitive themes is both challenging and rewarding.
Google audience: Audience reception information for this film is not widely available.
Awards & Accolades
Selected for the Discovery section at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2023, and screened at the San Sebastián International Film Festival 2023.
Fun Fact
This film marks the directorial debut of acclaimed Belgian actress Veerle Baetens.
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