Two completely different coming-of-age films will be shown on Monday as part of the main program of the 13th Zagreb Film Festival. The New Kid screens at 19:00 and Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's Me and Earl and the Dying Girl at 21:00. Both films can be seen in Cinema Europa.
The New Kid, the debut feature by former actor Rudi Rosenberg, depicts an often-not-so-simple everyday life of young teenagers: 14-year-old Benoit is a new kid in the class who will face numerous dilemmas while trying to fit in the new environment. Still, in a story we have already seen in its numerous predecessors, including classics like Rebel without a Cause and hit films like Karate Kid, Rosenberg has managed to include a fresh approach and lots of humor. The film won the main award in the debutant directors' program of San Sebastian International Film Festival.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl , an intimate and entertaining film by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, is about the asocial teenager Greg and his only friend Earl from the title, and their newly befriended classmate Rachel, who has been diagnosed with cancer. The film thrilled both critics and jury at Sundance, winning their respective awards. This intelligent and original mixture of humor and emotions successfully avoids the clichés of the (teen) comedy genre. The film was made in only 25 days and the whole process included the making of as many as 21 accompanying films!