We Are The Best! is that rare gem, a shamelessly feel-good film that leaves you elated without resorting to manipulative plot shenanigans.The film is centered on Bobo and Klara, a pair of 13-year-olds at odds with the world, holding on to their punk ideals in 1980s Sweden as their peers embrace new wave. As an outlet for their feelings of alienation they decide to form a band, despite having zero musical knowledge, and proceed to bash the hell out of their acquired instruments while yelling about how much they hate sports.
It’s refreshing to see an onscreen band that is truly awful, with no phony scenes where the members magically become brilliant songwriters. When the girls recruit a third member, guitarist Hedvig, instruments continue to be battered with complete abandon, improving only incrementally.
Light on incident it may be, but We Are The Best! is hugely charming thanks to its leads’ chemistry, their exuberance in spite of the odds a constant reminder of the film’s title. Men hover around the edges of the story, condescending to the girls before being relegated to the sidelines. There’s drama within the trio, but the catharsis they find in music creates bonds that are too strong to be broken.
We Are The Best! is a proudly feminist middle finger to conformity, and a celebration of youthful rebellion. It’s overflowing with good vibes, so it’s appropriate that the girls don’t stop just because the film has, carrying on their hijinks as the credits start to roll.
‘We are the Best!’ Movie Review
