Dating Amber

Name: Dating Amber
Director: David Freyne
Released: 2020

David Freyne

2020

Synopsis

Eddie and Amber decide to stage a relationship in order to stop everyone speculating about their sexuality. Eddie is keen to follow his dad into the military, while Amber dreams of moving to the liberal hub of London. The plan seems solid, but as their arrangement begins to fall apart, Eddie’s denial gets deeper as Amber realizes that a perilous future awaits her best friend unless she intervenes.

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Recommendations

88
Slant Magazine
Dating Amber rather seamlessly strips itself of its hyperbolic affectations to reveal a heartbreaking story of emancipation through friendship.
80
Film Threat
It might be easy to write off Dating Amber as yet another “coming out” film, but what it ultimately is is just plain ol’ good storytelling.
60
The Irish Times
There’s not much formal romance here, but there’s a great deal of love.
60
The Observer (UK)
As Amber becomes more comfortable with her queerness, the taciturn Eddie retreats inwards. Their parallel journeys dispense with a one-size-fits-all coming-out narrative and are handled with a lightness of touch by Irish writer and director David Freyne.
60
The Hollywood Reporter
Freyne draws out fizzy, gutsy performances from his two leads, who have a genuine, charming chemistry. The authenticity of their performances is perhaps slightly out of tune with the broad caricatures on display elsewhere, such as the mean classmates, but it's ultimately forgivable given how winning the film is overall.
50
Los Angeles Times
Not all of the ancillary characters and their stories are fully developed in the film’s quick 92 minutes, but Dating Amber convincingly channels the angst and awkwardness that can be a part of teenagers’ struggles with their identity.
40
The Guardian
It’s all a bit earnest and derivative and sometimes a bit lachrymose, despite some perfectly decent performances.