303 (2018)

This will be a difficult one for you to track down, which is an enormous shame. Clocking in at nearly three hours long, it's familiar to what Richard Linklater's Before Triolgy (1995-2013) might look like if it had been condensed into one movie set over a few months. Mala Emde and Anton Spieker are Jule and Jan, who meet in Berlin, as Jan attempts to hitch hike his way out of the capitol. What follows is a tale of romantic discovery, but in a Linklater style rather than the way of Gasper Noe (Love 3D, 2015) or Micahel Winterbottom (9 Songs, 2004). Hans Weingartner paints a beautiful picture, getting real chemistry out of his main two leads, and although contradicting and reliant on screenplay coincidences to push the story at times, this doesn't hamper your enjoyment of the film one jot. The picturesque locations throughout are easy to get lost in, so on the odd occasion the conversation goes awry, your attention never leaves the screen. It's such a shame 303 (named after the Mercedes camper van the two leads travel in) received such a small release, because this is a hidden gem, and it's final sequence will have you clutching the arms of your chair. 8.1/10