"Of an Age" is set in a wistful world of impossibility: that ethereal space where you meet someone wonderful and wonder what could be, but cannot be, for whatever reason.


Writer/director Goran Stolevski's second feature film tells a story that shares some similarities with other fleeting gay romances—namely, the excellent "Weekend" and "Call Me by Your Name"—in that it provides a glimpse of a quick and unusually transformative connection. Personal touches, on the other hand, abound: One of the characters has an ex-boyfriend named Goran, who is Macedonian, like the filmmaker.


However, while "Of an Age" has a moody, melancholy atmosphere, it lacks the characterization that would make this story truly devastating. Viewers who have had similar experiences may find it more engrossing; others, on the other hand, may find it unconvincing.


"Of an Age" begins in an unconventional manner, focusing on a hungover teenage girl named Ebony (Hattie Hook) who wakes up alone at dawn on a beach. She can't use her smartphone to find her location because it's 1999. (the setting in time is key to providing the story with some mystery, especially as it jumps ahead in its second chapter). Stumbling to a pay phone, she dials the number of the one person she knows will assist her without judgment: Kol (Elias Anton), her ballroom dance partner.


The 17-year-old Serbian immigrant is kind-hearted and patient. He's also gay, but he's not out to anyone, including himself. Making him a competitive ballroom dancer feels like an afterthought, an excuse for the awkward humor of having him run through suburban Melbourne streets in a sparkly, plunging costume. Why is this activity so important to him that he's worried about missing the finals because his partner is a shady party girl? It's a feature that feels tacked on and barely explored further.


Kol's mission is to find Ebony's brother, Adam (Thom Green), who owns a car and can assist him in picking her up. As a result, the two guys have a lengthy meet-cute during an hour-long road trip. Adam is several years older and more at ease in his own skin as a gay man, which allows him to recognize something in Kol. Stolevski, who also serves as editor, builds a gentle tension as the two chat, tease, and prod each other. These two very different characters share some sweet and amusing moments as they put each other to the test, trying to impress each other with the books and movies they've read and seen. Stolevski quietly and intimately observes every sidelong glance, every hushed moment of repressed longing while working with cinematographer Matthew Chuang. The images' blur suggests that these two figures are suspended in time rather than racing against the clock.


When Adam casually admits that he's gay, it sends a shockwave through Kol, touching something deep within him that he's not ready to acknowledge. Kol almost seems to have a light bulb go off over his head, but he's not quite ready to bask in its radiance. But who are these individuals? Kol is jittery and a little nerdy, but he can hold his own. Adam has a quick wit and a dry sense of humor. They bond over Wong Kar-1997 Wai's gay love story "Happy Together," which has a great score. However, these characters are ultimately just ideas that haven't been fully fleshed out.


As a plot device, Adam is about to leave the country the next day to pursue his Ph.D. in Argentina (which happens to be the setting of "Happy Together"). But, aside from the fact that the story requires a deadline, why does Adam want to study abroad? We mostly know who he is and what he values based on his interactions with others: his sister, his ex-boyfriend, and now this new and unlikely love interest.


Even if the depth of their desire isn't always plausible, the two lead actors have a pleasing chemistry. This is especially true in the film's final scene, when Anton exudes a swagger that hints at his character's acceptance of himself over time. But whether Kol and Adam can ever be happy together is another matter entirely.



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