We Are the Best!

It’s suburban Sweden, 1982, and punk is dead. Two 13-year-old outsiders, Bobo (Barkhammar) and Klara (Grosin), are feeling the loss more than most. Undaunted by a lack of musical ability, the girls form a pint-sized punk trio with a demure, God-fearing good-girl (LeMoyne), who also happens to be a kickass axe-smith. The targets of their rage include embarrassing parents and PE.

This is Moodysson back to the freewheeling verve of his early, funny features (Show Me Love, Together). Shot in a raggedy, handheld style, it’s an exquisite portrait of friendship and the frustrations of youth. Like all great bands, jealousies and egos – Bobo and Klara fight over a boy and the bass – threaten equilibrium, but self-expression wins out. It may not be very punk, but these girls just want to have fun. And, crucially, Moodysson is having a good time too; there’s joy in every frame. [Jamie Dunn]