Skate Kitchen

Review by Eve Jones

Directed by

Crystal Moselle

Starring

Emmanuel Barco Kabrina Adams Tom Bruno

Anticipation.

Skating in the kitchen? Cooking in the skatepark?

Enjoyment.

Pot, periods and kickflips brought to life with a dreamy aesthetic.

In Retrospect.

A mobilising portrait of sisterhood and skate culture.

Crystal Moselle’s New York-set tale of female friendship is one of the most exhilarating films of the year.

Support, power and the natural turbulence of sisterhood shine through in Crystal Moselle’s Skate Kitchen, a film about female friendship which rejects the sideshow baggage of toxicity and hatred. This sun-warmed coming-of-ager introduces Rachelle Vinberg as Camille, a lonely teen who just wants to skate. She struggles to forge a connection with her peers in the Long Island suburb she calls home, and so escapes to New York City to find an Instagram-famous female skate collective: The Skate Kitchen.

The film is based on Moselle’s 2016 short That One Day, which features much of the same cast. Real members of The Skate Kitchen play thinly disguised versions of themselves: they wear their own clothes (bejewelled with unique New York style); they skate on their home turf; and much of the film recreates their lived experience. The years of chemistry between the crew and their familiarity with skater slang adds authenticity to the film’s dialogue, coming to them as naturally as an ollie.

This relatability also extends to the simple plot, which is told in drags during afternoons at the skatepark and subway rides spent damning the patriarchy. Its measured pace feels true to life; Camille’s relationship with her protective mother ebbs and flows, and romances aren’t always what they seem. Friendship fallouts are revelatory life events for Camille to whom these girls become family. At points this lack of drama makes investment in the characters a little tough, in spite of their individual vibrancy.

Regardless, the plot plays second fiddle to an atmosphere of nostalgia. So essential to skating is the feeling, the freedom, the flying – all shared with your tube-socked, tie-dyed posse. Moselle reproduces this with mellow tones and ambient sounds. The slow motion shots of hedonistic parties and mesmerising skate sequences capture the idea that skating is a lifestyle for these characters – it doesn’t end when they step off a board.

Published 25 Sep 2018

Tags: Crystal Moselle

Anticipation.

Skating in the kitchen? Cooking in the skatepark?

Enjoyment.

Pot, periods and kickflips brought to life with a dreamy aesthetic.

In Retrospect.

A mobilising portrait of sisterhood and skate culture.

Suggested For You

Mid90s – first look review

By Hannah Strong

Jonah Hill’s directorial debut is a moving portrayal of adolescent isolation set within Los Angeles’ ’90s skating scene.

The Wolfpack

By Adam Woodward

The kids are kind of alright in this intriguing real life tale of cinematically-inclined trap-ins.

review

Eighth Grade

By Hannah Strong

Comedian Bo Burnham presents an intimate and engaging portrait of modern teenage life.

review LWLies Recommends

Little White Lies Logo

About Little White Lies

Little White Lies was established in 2005 as a bi-monthly print magazine committed to championing great movies and the talented people who make them. Combining cutting-edge design, illustration and journalism, we’ve been described as being “at the vanguard of the independent publishing movement.” Our reviews feature a unique tripartite ranking system that captures the different aspects of the movie-going experience. We believe in Truth & Movies.

Editorial

Design