As "You Were My First Boyfriend" (2023 release; 97 min.) opens, we are introduced to filmmaker Cecilia Aldarondo, who has nightmares reliving her high school years back in the mid-90s. We then go to "Winter Park, FL", where Aldarondo attends a high school reunion. Things might eg awkward... At this point we are 10 minutes into the documentary.
Couple of comments: even thought this is co-directed by Cecilia Aldarondo and Sarah Enid Hagey, this is really the story of Cecilia. The movie starts out slowly, almost to the point where I was considering to bail on it, but then something magical starts to happen, and the documentary picks up steam (and beauty and empathy). For some, this still may not be enough and they cannot overcome some cringe-worthy passages in the film. But by the time we come to the enactment of a "My So-Called Life" scene, and then the Tori Amos video "Crucify", it all made perfect sense to me. Kudos to Cecilia Aldarondo for having the courage to share her feelings with us.
"You Were My First Boyfriend" premiered at this year's SXSW festival to immediate critical acclaim. I read a good review of it in the NY Times last week, peaking my interest. The movie just started showing on HBO and also streaming on Max, where I caught it the other night. If you are in the mood to reflect what it was like to live through adolescence, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
