I kind of wanted to hate this movie. The promotional material was too perfect and pretty. The names attached to the film were relatively unknown. My hometown/homestate, I saw people my age doing what most people only dream of. I wanted to criticize, and I wanted to leave the theater with a list of ways the movie could have been better.
However, I really couldn't do that. I left feeling this weird connection, this weird relation to the characters. I felt thankful and grateful for the things I have, for some reason. I felt nostalgic and looked forward to my future relationships/friendships, at the same time. The silent moments in this movie are almost deafening - they force you to think and consider and immerse yourself in the facial expressions, the emotions, and 'what ifs'.
The chemistry, characteristics, and relationships are so very realistic and relative. You feel like you know them, or even like you are them.
I was incredibly happy and honoured to attend the premier at the Florida Film Festival - I was even more stoked to attend the Q&A as press/photographer. During the Q&A, we got to see the thought-process, the real people behind the film - they're a captivating bunch.
I love that this movie just throws you into the situation. It doesn't waste precious time explaining things or stating/overstating the obvious. I love that it just flows and takes you along for the ride. That being said - it speaks wonders to the fact that you bond so nicely/well with the characters, and feel so much through the movie - that you feel all this without a backstory, without a history, without an explanation.
This is definitely not the last you will see from the cast/crew.