Moodysson's first critically acclaimed film, 'Fucking Amal', aka 'Show Me Love', is a poignant, funny and heartwarming tale about teenage love, and the associated fear of not getting it reciprocated. It also shows peer pressure, and how it limits people from being themselves. The ending to the story is quite inspiring and delightful.The actors playing the two lead protagonists are young and talented; they properly capture the emotions teenagers go through in their states of love, despair and helplessness. The characters around these two are also quite interesting, and they've been developed well too (like Agnes' father, Elin's sister, and Johan). These supporting actors also give commendable performances.Being in love, and often thinking we're the only ones going through it, can really be a lonely feeling. The most beautiful aspect of the movie is that it isn't the usual teenage romance cliché, and is set in such real world and emotions; most people could easily relate to at least one of the two leads.The pale-coloured cinematography and the documentary-style close-ups helps us get drawn into the lives of these characters. The editing is perfect; it keeps the movie short, simple and well-paced.

After seeing how Lukas Moodysson's debut movie is alternatively spelt - and which actually works in the Amazon search engine - !! - and like a number of people had seen his bleak and difficult to watch (if rewarding) Lilya4-Ever first, I had actually put off seeing this realistic and well written/acted little drama.A massive hit in its native Sweden, Show Me Love could have run like so many U.S. 'coming out' dramas, but it has a low-key honesty, a sort of intimacy in the way it's filmed and above all, the main characters are actually likable, which is often not the case with American flicks. And, being Swedish, is just a little bit more interesting (as is comparing how similar so many of their words are to ours.)Refreshingly, the situations never seem contrived; bizarre at times, yes, but even I remember teenage years and like many, wanted the world to swallow me up. The frustration and angst of the girls, Elin, Agnes and Jessica, especially Agnes', who is mentally doing cartwheels as she questions the whole, oh, so complex meeting and mating game. That pretty blonde 15 year old Elin snatches a kiss with her for a bet, well....watch it and see!A few professional reviews have brought down the overall merit of the film by saying that it treats the boys in the film as boorish morons and in that, it is one dimensional - and all that. Well, yes, teenage boys CAN be and often ARE un-thinking oafs, as they are here, but in a movie that quietly champions young lesbianism, then it's obviously going to portray the girls in it as sensitive and interesting people and the "opposition" in the way that it does.It's not a brilliant movie but what it sets out to do, it does modestly and with its target audience clearly in its sights. It's well made and of sensible length (85mins) - even the grainy, semi Dogme style of natural lighting fits the warmth and intimacy that it generates. There's genuine, but subtle wit - attempting to overdose on antacid tablets to get high before a party might be a cliché but just is so superbly done, here.I'm glad I've now seen Show Me Love. It shows a softer, more personable side to Lukas Moodysson - just as well, as I'm lucky to own his 4 DVD boxset, of which this DVD is part. Buying the set was about the only way I could get Show Me Love plus 3 more, including the aforementioned Lilya4- Ever.

Amal (pronounced 'o:mol') is a small town just west of the great lake Vanern in the south of Sweden. But it could be any town of similar size anywhere in the world. A town where teenagers are either too young or too old to fit into the weekend activities offered - and therefore bored. Instead they just hang out by the burger place down town, drinking booze (home made, of course...) and driving mopeds. The goal for the evening is either to get very drunk or to "score". Probably both...In such a town we get to hang out with a few of the youngsters. Elin, a 14 year old girl trying to look older by wearing heavy make up and hanging out with her older sister and her boyfriend. And on the other hand there is Agnes. She is also 14, but no one wants to hang out with her. Instead of being her friends, the other teenagers make fun of her, calling her a "lesbo" (she doesn't have a boyfriend...). Her over protective parents don't make it any easier for her to get a social life.Agnes is secretly in love with Elin, something she writes in her computer diary. A diary witch happens to be read by Elin and her sister on Agnes' failure of a birthday party. The rumor is confirmed. And Elin is feeling confused...This lovingly told story of being a teenager passing through puberty hits right on the spot. It's all "been there, done that": all the juvenile "first times". Lukas Moodysson has managed to tell a lovely story of friendships lost and found, with a great sense of humor.And it has got a great soundtrack, including Robyn, Broder Daniel and others.What's not to enjoy? The story of being young.

I applaud this film because of:1) The sheer bravery of the film-makers honestly portraying two teenage girls who grow to love each other.2) The uncompromising commitment the actors, screenwriter and director have to the subject matter. The writer did not start to write a lesbian-themed movie and then get scared; you know, where one of the girls winds up being simply confused, or proves to be dysfunctional and looking for attention, or turns out to have a low libido or is trying to provoke an ex-boyfriend.3) Most importantly, the authentic casting. Faced with this script, a skittish, hand-wringing casting director from the U.S.A. would have hired women in their mid-twenties to play these roles and the result would have been laughably ludicrous. "Fucking Amal" was courageously cast with real teens and the film rings true because of it.4) The low-tech production values actually add to the movie's appeal by giving it a gritty realism.5) The two main actresses, Rebecca Liljeberg and Alexandra Dahlstrom, are positively adorable human beings and their acting is so realistic they give the movie a so-real-you're-there feel.There are three small negatives which keep the movie from rating ten stars:1) The two main characters whine and complain too much in the first half of this film. I know they're supposed to be hormoned out and they live in a boring, no-account hamlet; but too much is still too much.2) Even considering this movie is about teens, there is too much interpersonal cruelty in the script for the film's own good. I appreciate that they were trying to make a bravely realistic movie, but even slightly more love and tenderness would have drawn the audience in still more.3) "Fucking Amal" would have improved if there was more intimacy between the two young women. The characters are old enough to feel deep love and also experience sexual longing for the one they're in love with. Even a little sexual intimacy toward the end of the film would have assured the viewer that the girls intend to authentically live out their love for one another.Overall a courageous, fabulous film. Maybe someday Hollywood will make a teen film this real!