Skate Kitchen **** (2018, Rachelle Vinberg, Nina Moran, Jaden Smith) – Movie Review

Co-writer/ co-producer/ director Crystal Moselle’s vibrant and alive Skate Kitchen (2018) boasts a rich, dynamic and truthful performance by Rachelle Vinberg as Camille, a lonely 18-year-old Long Island suburban teenaged skateboarder who makes friends with a posse of girl skateboarders called Skate Kitchen in New York City.

The subculture, the nature of friendship and the heroine’s inner self are all revealed in this exciting entertaining and involving coming-of-age movie. Camille’s strained but loving relationship with her mom – along with the arc of her relationship with her new-found friends – is at the heart of this mainly women-only movie. It all goes to show, once again, that, whoever you are, wherever you are, fitting in is hard to do for young people. And, once you have come of age, well, fitting in is hard to do, whoever you are, wherever you are.

As film it is very fluent and fluid. It is literally a moving picture, thrillingly shot, edited and scored. As drama, it is also a moving picture, haunting and moving in its understated coming-of-age kind of way. The other performers are very good, but it’s Vinberg’s show, and she is a quietly controlled knockout. It’s easy to believe in every second of this film, its story, its incidents and its characters. It has truth stamped all the way through it. There is atmosphere and character everywhere you look.

Nina Moran is outstanding in support as Kurt, and there are even a couple of roles for boys – Jaden Smith, who is good, Taylor Gray as Jared, Nico Hiraga as Patrick, Dylan Pitanza as Skater Boy 1, Kobi Frumer as Skater Boy 2.

Moselle is credited as writer and for the story, Jen Silverman and Aslihan Unaldi are also credited as writers. The cinematography is by Shabier Kirchner, the music is by Aska Matsumiya and the film editing is by Nico Leunen. These are the key personnel.

Comparisons are odorous, but I think this is a better women-centred coming-of-age movie than Lady Bird. I believed in Rachelle Vinberg far more than Saoirse Ronan, I never once thought Vinberg was acting. She is the real deal and so is the semi-documentary-flavoured Skate Kitchen.

Skate Kitchen premiered in the US at the Sundance Film Festival on 21 January 2018 and in the UK at Sundance London on 2 June 2018. It is out in the US on 10 August 2018. The UK release date is 28 September 2018.

There is advice for drug use and strong language throughout, strong sexual content, and some nudity – all involving teenagers.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Movie Review

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com