About Teen Spirit (HBO)

Teen Spirit is a British/American musical drama film that premiered on HBO in 2019. The movie follows the journey of a young Polish girl, Violet Valenski, who auditions in a TV singing competition "Teen Spirit" to escape her small town and daunting family situations and to pursue her dream of being a superstar.

Violet finds a mentor in the form of a former opera singer, Vlad, who becomes like a father figure to her, guiding her through the grueling journey of the competition, dealing with shady managers, the price of fame and the realization of her dreams and aspirations. The movie showcases the ups and downs of the music industry and the price one has to pay for fame.

Making / Production

This film was directed by Max Minghella - his directorial debut - and produced by Fred Berger. The primary filming location was Isle of Wight in England. The movie’s concept was inspired by reality TV shows and pop culture, with a compelling storyline that gives a fresh perspective on the price of fame.

Actors

• Elle Fanning plays Violet Valenski. She brilliantly portrays a shy, introvert girl who dreams of becoming a singing sensation.
• Zlatko Buric as Vlad, adds depth to his character as a washed-up opera singer turned father figure and mentor.
• Rebecca Hall is the icy cold Rebecca, who plays the manager trying to gain from Violet’s newfound fame.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This movie marks the directorial debut of Max Minghella, who himself comes from a strong film background, being the son of Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella.
• Elle Fanning performed all her songs live during the production.
• The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 7 September 2018, before its release on HBO in 2019.

Quotes

• "Don't kill the thing you love."
• "You've done a great deal already. Get out there and show them."
• "No, I don't have any friends."

Music, Soundtrack

The movie has a terrific soundtrack with music that beautifully encapsulates the narrative arc of the movie. Music is an indispensable part of the film's texture and is used as a tool to showcase Violet's growth and transformation.

• Tides - Jack and Jack
• Teenage Kicks - The Undertones
• Lights - Ellie Goulding
• Dancing on My Own - Robyn