classicsoncall Even if I'm not part of the target audience for a film like this, I can appreciate a good story if it's well written with interesting characters. The praise for this film from those who love it sails way over my head because I didn't find anything charming about the story or the two principals involved. One only needs to read the language from some of the characters in the movie on the quotes link from the IMDb title page to get an idea how crass this all came across. I didn't have much problem with the story's content or the fact that the main characters were lesbian, but the situations weren't handled with the kind of sensitivity that might have made me sympathetic toward the characters. On top of that, the Swedish title for the movie carries just the most negative connotation I can think of, so if it's meant to impress an audience into viewing, then I think it misses it's purpose. I watched it because it was an IMDb 'Top 250' film in 2001, but it appears that better judgment has taken hold in ensuing years. Beyond that I don't know what else there is to say.

SnoopyStyle Åmål is a provincial town in Sweden. Brash popular Elin Olsson finds life infuriatingly boring. Agnes Ahlberg has a loving family but her school life is tough. Her only friend is wheelchair bound Viktoria. They are picked on by Elin's friends. Agnes is secretly in love with Elin and so is a boy named Johan. Agnes' parents throw a birthday party for her and only Viktoria shows up. Agnes has a tantrum insulting Viktoria who leaves. Elin shows up with her older sister Jessica as she tries to avoid Johan. Elin kisses Agnes on a dare and leaves. Elin goes to the other party where she gets terribly drunk. Elin is guilt ridden, and goes back to apologize to Agnes just in time as Agnes tries to slit her wrist. Elin falls for Agnes but fears being found out.It's the raw emotions of teenage coming-of-age stories. It is hormone-filled. It is the scariest of fears and the highest of love. The two girls are perfect. Love is messy and ultimately uplifting. Agnes at her birthday is painfully raw emotionally. This is one of the best teen love movies.

basilisksamuk I thought I'd start on my Lukas Moodysson box set. Although I've read many excellent reviews of his films, the only one I've actually seen before is this and I bought the box set simply on the grounds that I loved this film so much.Having now watched the film for the second time I'm not disappointed. This easily takes its place in my top ten films of all time. It's such a sweet film and the acting is just sensational. I never doubted for one moment that this was as close to a portrayal of teenage life as you could get and for that reason alone it deserves its status. I just scanned the comments on IMDb and of 310 comments nearly every one raves about the film, usually giving it 10 stars. Only about a dozen negative comments out of the lot. It seems that if people like this at all they really love it.

Tim Kidner 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.