Before watching this movie you should ask yourself one question: Am I willing to sit in a city bus for an hour and a half, surrounded by teenagers? Because that’s exactly what this Michel Gondry movie is. It’s the last day of school and as a viewer you ride along with the students, who are on their way home.
Gondry is well known for his plaful imagery, but in this case he reduces it to a minimum: During the opening credits of the movie a toy bus is driving throug the streets of New York and ends up at the actual bus. Another example is the way he shows the titles of the three chapters of the film, which are shown in a very natural way, for example through a reflection on the bus. During the journey the viewer gets to know a lot of the kids and as the movie progresses the number is reduced as they are getting of the bus at their stops.
Those characters vary greatly. At the back of the bus there is a group of boys who are bullying everyone, there is a girl who had her reasons not to go to school for a while, some are talking about their insecurities or relationships and some are silent and just draw. There is one thing they all have in common though and that’s their mobile phones. Videos and the latest gossip spread around the bus in no time and Gondry shows them to the viewer as well. The movie really does not have a traditional story, but as the bus starts to empty there is more focus on specific characters. The result is a film which gives you the feeling that you got to know a couple of people during this busride.
The We and the I is a movie that’s different and manages to shock, make you laugh or frustrate you. The acting of the teenagers in general is good, although there are a few unconvincing moments (which can be forgiven). It’s a film which feels natural and dynamic and with it’s hip hop inspired soundtrack (using a lot of classics) he makes it clear that it is set in New York. If you are looking for a movie which feels like a slice of ordinary life in which various subjects that teenagers might struggle with are shown, than this is something you might want to check out.
