It Felt Like Love

Eliza Hittman's It Felt Like Love (US, 2013) - An evocatively shot, rawly unsentimental coming-of-ager from debut helmer Eliza Hittman, "It Felt Like Love" follows a vulnerable teen who envies the sexual experience of her confident older friend and determines to have a relationship of her own. The writer-director's stress on the small, degrading details that attend yearning as well as her protagonist's desperation and self-deception make it more mood piece than straightforward narrative, but the ultra-confident production proves that Hittman's a talent to watch. Nevertheless, critical and fest admiration are likely to trump commercial success here. The microbudget indie will next court Euro buyers from Rotterdam's Tiger competition. 2013ROTic, 2013SUN. RATING; 5.