Babyteeth

Name: Babyteeth
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: June 19, 2020
Duration: 118 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Andrea Demetriades, Arka Das, Ben Mendelsohn, Charles Grounds, Eliza Scanlen

2020

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Ratings

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Babyteeth (US Trailer 1)

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date (Streaming): June 19, 2020 | MA-17

Starring: Andrea Demetriades, Arka Das, Ben Mendelsohn, Charles Grounds, Eliza Scanlen, Emily Barclay, Essie Davis, Georgina Symes, Justin Smith, Michelle Lotters, Priscilla Doueihy, Renee Billing, Sora Wakaki, Toby Wallace, Zack Grech

Summary: When seriously ill teenager Milla falls madly in love with smalltime drug dealer Moses, it’s her parents’ worst nightmare. But as Milla’s first brush with love brings her a new lust for life, things get messy and traditional morals go out the window. Milla soon shows everyone in her orbit – her parents, Moses, a sensitive music teacher, aWhen seriously ill teenager Milla falls madly in love with smalltime drug dealer Moses, it’s her parents’ worst nightmare. But as Milla’s first brush with love brings her a new lust for life, things get messy and traditional morals go out the window. Milla soon shows everyone in her orbit – her parents, Moses, a sensitive music teacher, a budding child violinist, and a disarmingly honest, pregnant neighbor – how to live like you have nothing to lose. What might have been a disaster for the Finlay family instead leads to letting go and finding grace in the glorious chaos of life.… Expand

Director: Shannon Murphy

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: MA-17

Runtime: 118 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Wendy Ide

Aug 19, 2020

There’s a fearlessness to Murphy’s film-making, a slightly wayward, maverick spirit. I can’t wait to see what she does next. Read full review

Richard Lawson

Jul 2, 2020

Murphy animates Rita Kalnejais’s script—itself an inventive reimagining of cliché—with insistent artistry, announcing her arrival as an ascendant talent. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Jun 17, 2020

Like many a first film from someone experienced in episodic TV, Babyteeth gives us a lot to chew on. But in this case, that turns it into the very best kind of emotional roller-coaster, one that wins its laughs and earns its tears. In a year without blockbusters, this Aussie indie marvel stands out — one of the best films of the summer. Read full review

Peter Travers

Jun 19, 2020

In the hands of first-time feature director Shannon Murphy — who crushed it in both of the Season Three Killing Eve episodes she helmed — and screenwriter Rita Kalnejais, who adapted her own play, Babyteeth rips past the hackneyed tropes of illness drama to dig out what’s fresh in the familiar. Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

Jun 17, 2020

Written by Rita Kalnejais, based on her own 2012 play, Babyteeth works precisely because it refuses to accommodate expectation. Read full review

The Film Stage Rory O'Connor

Jan 20, 2020

Like the ramshackle family it so fondly depicts, Babyteeth is not without its flaws but it does suggest a confident new voice in independent cinema. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Jun 18, 2020

The movie has texture but no depth, tears but no snot. Who are these people, I kept wondering. Read full review

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User Reviews

Marakai

Aug 19, 2020

There’s an abundance of rising talent emerging from Australia’s film scene at the moment and director Shannon Murphy can consider herself among this group. Her coming-of-age/family drama Babyteeth is yet another success from the antipodes and showcases a confident new voice in independentThere’s an abundance of rising talent emerging from Australia’s film scene at the moment and director Shannon Murphy can consider herself among this group. Her coming-of-age/family drama Babyteeth is yet another success from the antipodes and showcases a confident new voice in independent cinema. Generally, coming-of-age dramas don’t work for me but Murphy offers so much more here. There’s a lot of ambition in her approach and although a little more discipline is required when some scenes go on too long, for the most part this is a hugely involving and emotional drama that addresses some weighty issues, such as terminal illness, addiction and mental health. These issues are handled sensitively but also not without some well judged humour to lighten the load, as well as benefiting from four brilliantly committed performances: relative newcomers Eliza Scanlen and Toby Wallace excel as the youngsters coming to terms with the hands they’re dealt while experienced performers like The Babadook’s Essie Davis and, the always excellent, Ben Mendelsohn pick up the pieces as suffering parents with their own issues. A beautiful and emotionally resonant piece of work.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

wheeelertron

Jan 31, 2021

This really threw me, a few misfires early on had me doubting but then suddenly and with magic it all came together and I was completely emotionally engaged and became locked-on to it's powerful message on non-judgement, subjectivity and love, I understood everything, I laughed and I criedThis really threw me, a few misfires early on had me doubting but then suddenly and with magic it all came together and I was completely emotionally engaged and became locked-on to it's powerful message on non-judgement, subjectivity and love, I understood everything, I laughed and I cried and I felt it… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLR91

Jun 21, 2020

A stunningly original debut from director Shannon Murphy. Essie Davis gives an extraordinarily complex and layered performance.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

JLuis_001

Sep 11, 2020

The combo of a teenager and a terminal illness.
To be honest that's already a pretty tiresome narrative resource and I actually started to see it with a tired expectation.
The mainstream side of the YA genre has already explored it quite a bit, with more manipulative and sentimental resultsThe combo of a teenager and a terminal illness.
To be honest that's already a pretty tiresome narrative resource and I actually started to see it with a tired expectation.
The mainstream side of the YA genre has already explored it quite a bit, with more manipulative and sentimental results than truly emotional.

And while Babyteeth doesn't come to rediscover anything either, it's a story that feels more spontaneous.
The path is similar, the characters will learn, they will experience something different, they will grow and ultimately maybe it will cause a change. The topics are there, but Babyteeth manages to make them feel even if not innovative, more entertaining and satisfying.

Let's say Babyteeth is like The Fault in Our Stars but for viewers looking for more than just the perfect idyll.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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