Short Term 12 is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time and it's right up there (although not quite overtaking) Boyhood, which I got the opportunity to watch earlier this year.
Short Term 12 is about a young woman working in a home for troubled teenagers, the characters that she meets and her own battles that she has to face after having masked them for a very long time. Brie Larson, who plays the protagonist (Grace), seemed vaguely familiar to me so I looked her up and I was stunned to discover that she played Envy Adams in Scott Pilgrim Vs The World - her acting is incredible and I wouldn't have ever guessed that Grace and Envy were played by the same actress.
What struck me about this film is how beautiful all the interactions between the characters are but how these interactions lure you into a false sense of security which is then completely disrupted by sudden heart-wrenching action (I won't go into detail because this is definitely something you should watch for yourself). Another great detail of the film is how it comes full circle, with parallels between the first scene and the last scene that complete the movie and make a point of how life and relationships between people progress.
The trailer includes some wonderful quotes that sum up the film better than I ever could:
'A roller coaster of emotion... both heartwarming and heartrending at once.' - The Playlist
'Brie Larson is a quiet revelation. The same could be said of the film itself.' - film.com
'The whole thing just feels perfect... a shining example of what cinema is all about' - slashfilm
This film is definitely worth a watch or two - for its subtle humour, moving narrative, stunning cinematography, incredible script and captivating characters.
