Film rating: 4.5/5
Walkouts: 0/5
Pretentious clapping at credits: 2/5
BPM sighting: No

A trio of suburban 12-year-olds deal with the traumas of adolescence, as the death of a peer sends shockwaves through their lives in Michael Cuesta’s latest offering.

Insecure and self-conscious, Jacob suffers survivor guilt after his twin brother dies in a treehouse fire set by two other youths. His rage leads him to visit the perpetrators in prison, where a surprising friendship begins to form. Meanwhile, Jacob’s friend Leonard, who survived the fire but lost his sense of taste and smell, enrages his obese family when his condition leaves him with a reduced appetite. Malee, seemingly self-possessed but suffering a deficit of familial love, expresses her budding sexuality by fixating on one of her mother’s therapy patients.

With echoes of Todd Solondz’s (Happiness) slightly surreal treatment of everyday lives, Twelve and Holding is a mesmerising and darkly humorous portrayal of the traumas of adolescence.

This outstanding film was an engrossing tale of three pre-teenagers’ lives after the tragic death of their twin brother and friend. With just the right balance of reality, emotion and humour Twelve And Holding forces you to fully engage with the awkward but believable themes and events. Ed must grudgingly hold back half a point for the slightly unrealistic happily-ever-after final montage of shots.