Morris from America
2016 · Directed by Chad Hartigan
Original language: English
- drama
- romance
The story
13-year-old Morris Gentry has just relocated with his single father, Curtis to Heidelberg, Germany. Morris, who fancies himself the next Notorious B.I.G., is a complete fish-out-of-water—a budding hip-hop star in an EDM world. To complicate matters further, Morris quickly falls hard for his cool, rebellious, 15-year-old classmate Katrin. Morris sets out against all odds to take the hip-hop world by storm and win the girl of his dreams.
What it’s like
Warm, unhurried afternoon light and a loose, observational camera that lingers on a Heidelberg apartment, bright school corridors and the sleepy streets of a German town, giving it the gentle, slightly off-kilter feel of a summer in a place that hasn't quite become home. The soundtrack is where the film keeps its energy: boom-bap beats and a teenager's freestyling bedroom raps sit against the thump of German club music and the quiet hum of a tutor's study room, so the sound itself carries the culture clash. The vibe is bittersweet and funny, with an easy, low-key warmth. It moves at the pace of ordinary days, with awkward silences and small victories given room to breathe. Its emotional arc follows a boy who is sure of himself on the outside and tender underneath, learning to read a new language, a new friendship and a first crush. Language barriers and tutoring sessions drive much of the humour, and the romance stays sweet and tentative. The intensity is mild: some teenage swearing and sexual talk, a brief scuffle, and no real menace. It suits viewers who want a gentle coming-of-age comedy for a lazy weekend, or anyone who enjoys hip-hop, outsider stories and warm, understated humour.
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