‘Of an Age’ (2023) Review: A Love Remembered
The first interaction with a crush is unforgettable and electrifying. It takes time to muster the confidence and confess the feelings of first love. Goran Stolevski’s Of an Age plays with the blushing sensations of a budding romance between two young people. It’s a coming-of-age queer story set in 1995 in Melbourne, which touches on the delicate topics of sexual identity and lust. Of an Age is a uniquely Melbournian gem that experiences first love and heartbreak, which adds a layer of sentimentality and a delicate romantic tale of distance and exploration.
The film begins with Ebony (Hattie Hook) waking up on the beach after a late-night bender. She finds a pay phone and frantically calls her dance partner, Kol (Elias Anton), eagerly practising for their final performance at the Australian Dance competition. Ebony informs him that she might not be able to make it to the finals and enlists the help of her older brother, Adam (Thom Green), to retrieve her. On the drive to the beach, Kol and Adam share their thoughts on literature, music, family, and future plans. Kol learns that Adam is leaving the next day to complete his graduate work in South America. As they get to know each other, Adam and Kol’s emotional responsiveness and attraction towards each other grow. Kol must decide whether to ignore his closeted queer identity or respond to Adam’s openness.
Stolevski reveals a tender portrayal of lust and romance in Of an Age. While the movie begins with Ebony waking up in the middle of nowhere and the rush to go to the dance competition, it starts when Kol meets Adam. Throughout the drive, Kol steals glances at Adam’s body and face, which Stolevski captures in close-up shots of the character. These secretive glances towards Adam reveal an emotional sensitivity, curiosity and tenderness within the story. Stolevski shows a familiar route in coming-of-age stories that gradually show that both characters are attracted to each other.
The biggest obstacle to their budding romance is not only Kol’s uncertainty about his sexuality but also that Adam leaves for South America the next day. Kol and Adam have a connection. But they are hesitant to continue things further because of Adam’s plans. Kol pretends to like and know the works of Kafka and Anthony Burgess to impress Adam. When Kol confesses that he has never read any of their work, Adam doesn’t seem to mind. It’s subtle details like this that impact the story. There is a sense of urgency between them — knowing that their budding romance will end soon — but Stolevski never attempts to force it.
In any coming-of-age story, the awkwardness and tender moments between the two characters solidify the budding romance. Even after their road trip ends, Kol and Adam find themselves together. Their conversations lead to emotional connectedness. The audience is transfixed by how their relationship will play out in the movie.
In the second part of Of an Age, set ten years later, Kol and Adam return to Melbourne for Ebony’s birthday. They have changed, and it’s clear that they still share the same intense feelings from a decade ago. Stolevski never lets the story feel overstuffed with too much information. It never loses grip of the initial romance between Kol and Adam. The tension only begins when the story is in its final act when Stolevski takes a sharp turn and reveals a heartbreaking moment that stops Kol in his tracks.
Of an Age is a slow-burn romance that reveals that brief encounters and tender romances are part of life-changing experiences. Anton portrays the awkwardness of the young teenager trying to come to terms with his sexuality. Green, on the other hand, conveys a much more confident portrayal of Adam, with self-awareness and swagger. Both of them understand the gravity of their performance. Their roles bring a newfound rawness and intimacy to this coming-of-age story. Stolevski’s Of an Age captures the intense feelings of love remembered; as a memory that leaves a profound impact on their lives.
