AS YOU ARE is a Dark Look at Growing Up in The '90s - Sundance Review
As You Are is a movie that perhaps wasn't the most exciting or notable film that showed at Sundance this year, but it really drew me in right from the beginning. It's set in the early '90s, with punk and grunge references and other pop culture relics scattered throughout the storyline. The film follows three friends — Jack (Owen Campbell), Mark (Charlie Heaton), and Sarah (Amandla Stenberg, who played Rue in The Hunger Games) — through a series of memories as told by Jack in what is clearly a police interrogation.
Jack and Mark first meet after their parents start dating and soon move in together to create the family that neither Jack nor Mark ever really had. After a fight with some classic, old-school bullies, they meet Sarah and the three of them become fast friends, ditching class to get high and talk about music, life, or the passing of Kurt Cobain.
Of course, this doesn't last. Mark's father is very abusive and when their parents break up, Jack and Mark do too. Mark leaves school, and with it, his two best friends. Jack and Sarah begin dating, but things seem a little off. Neither of them is the same without Mark.
This film is a darker take on the classic coming-of-age story that gets regurgitated every so often, and it does a great job of capturing the fear and uncertainty of being a teenager and trying to figure out exactly who you are. The title, As You Are, is a clear reference to the Nirvana song as well as an echo of each character's struggle to be true to themselves while still fitting in and feeling accepted.
The acting in this film was absolutely terrific. Campbell is charmingly sincere with a lanky awkwardness that feels relatable. Heaton and Stenberg are charismatic and attractive, and make their characters feel just as unsure about the world as Jack is. The plot avoids many teen drama cliches while providing a sense of familiarity at the same time. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone who's a fan of angsty '90s vibes and great acting.