‘Soft’ follows a three genderqueer adolescents during their summer antics, during which their bonds are tested by a mysterious disappearance.
They call them growing pains, but if we’re being honest, some kids suffer more than others. The ones that don’t fit in or don’t have ideal home lives will inevitably experience more social stigmas and, potentially, emotional trauma than their peers. Being young is already so difficult, particularly as adolescents reach an age where they long for independence but still require the guardianship (and guidance) of an adult. Finding a balance between the two can be challenging, sometimes resulting in a swing too far one way or the other. In Soft (formerly known as Pu$$y), three best friends spread their wings over the summer.
Julien (Matteus Lunot), Tony (Zion Matheson) and Otis (Harlow Joy) are practically inseparable. They hang out around the Greater Toronto Area, doing dumb kid stuff all day before heading back to their respective homes. Otis is an all-around good kid who lives with his caring father, but feels he needs to hide his homosexuality from him. Tony’s mom is incredibly supportive of the fact that she’s trans and is allowing her to live as her true self. Julien’s mother disapproves of him, so he lives with Dawn (Miyoko Anderson), a trans prostitute who does her best to care for him, and keep him and his friends out of trouble. When she doesn’t come home one night, Julien begins a desperate search to find her and avoid returning to a life of condemnation.
Writer/director Joseph Amenta’s debut feature is a candid portrayal of a trio of kids who know exactly who they are and don’t care what anyone thinks about it. It’s awe-inspiring to see people so young be so confident about their self-identities, owing so much to the unyielding support they provide each other. Consequently, they seem somewhat siloed from the rest of the world, which isn’t necessarily as accepting of their choices, exemplified by the black eye Julien sports for the film’s entirety. While their parents support varies, the importance of Dawn’s presence in their lives is not minimized. They feel seen with her and she gives them the best advice at her disposal, based on her own experiences, doing her best to keep them safe.
The camera stays very close to the kids, blocking out the world beyond the space they occupy. It’s almost like watching their lives from the eyes of a fourth, unseen character who is privileged enough to be a part of their inner circle. The young cast is exceptional, portraying the characters and their many layers with incredible sincerity. Over the course of the film they laugh, they play, they fight, they console each other and they conspire to gain entrance to a club they are much too young to attend. At this age, their emotions are always running high, which means they feel the good and the bad that much more. Yet, their friendship proves stronger than their disagreements and they always find their way to back to each other.
Note: Even though the word “pu$$y” is deeply entwined in the narrative and soundtrack, filmmakers made the difficult decision to change the name to increase the potential for international distribution.
Soft had its world premiere in the Discovery programme at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Read other reviews from the festival.
Director: Joseph Amenta
Starring: Matteus Lunot, Harlow Joy and Zion Matheson
