Part of the New Directors strand of the San Sebastián International Film Festival, Weightless marks Danish filmmaker Emilie Thalund’s feature debut. In it, 15-year-old Lea (Marie Helweg Augustsen) wants to lose weight, so she spends her summer at a health camp, surrounded by nature and by other young people of a similar age, especially her roommate Sasha (Ella Paaske). The presence of this girl, who is very lively, outgoing and carefree, and who already behaves like an adult, has an influence on Lea, who, in many respects, finds herself to be growing up very rapidly. In this case, her longing to come of age is reflected in her behaviour towards instructor Rune (Joachim Fjelstrup), whom she is attracted to.

The film is gentle at its core, using warmth and a certain softness to shape its characters’ world. The three main figures often treat each other in the worst possible ways, yet they still manage to patch things up. This works because they’re written with real depth – one can see why they act as they do, even when they’re clearly in the wrong. In this respect, the script by Marianne Lentz is probably Weightless’s biggest strength. It gives the story a sense of completeness, even when things are left unsaid. Lea and the people surrounding her are believable, even when they display their most paradoxical behaviour.

Louise McLaughlin’s cinematography reflects the subtlety of the screenplay and perfectly matches the shot choices, which show an assured directorial vision. Carefully chosen frames highlight the most psychologically unsettling moments, enhancing the narrative’s sense of authenticity. That being said, Thalund’s film is not devoid of certain overly conventional elements, and from time to time, it seems poised to take a certain turn that might have helped it achieve a higher level of overall quality and originality. Some sequences are predictable and don’t challenge the audience as much as they could have. The movie seems more intent on being a well-written, relatively “safe” watch than on delivering something too daring or provocative. A few bolder ideas here and there would probably have lifted the film out of the stasis it sometimes risks sinking into.

Nonetheless, the themes of Weightless are widely relatable, especially the feeling of being uncomfortable in one’s skin. Although some of the people around her – both peers and adults – say that Lea is accepted, at least in the safe space provided by the health camp, she still struggles to accept herself, which is very common at that age. It’s also likely that the world outside of that safe zone has been less pleasant to Lea, but luckily, the film doesn’t dwell on that side of its protagonist's life. It’s a smart choice to show who Lea has become, rather than the process that has led her to the point where the audience meets her. It’s hard not to connect with her: everyone can relate to these feelings of inadequacy, tangled up with a pulsating lust for life, a sentiment that can be felt not only around one’s teenage years, but all throughout one’s existence.

Weightless was produced by Denmark’s Snowglobe, and its international sales are handled by REinvent.