Falling under the YA (Young Adult) genre, Chemical Hearts – a typical romantic drama is not only written, produced and directed by American film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor – Richard Tan who also adapted the screenplay from Krystal Sutherland’s novel, Our Chemical Hearts.
Having released on Amazon Prime in August 2020, the movie was also filmed in New Jersey – where Tanne is from. Similar to the novel that it is based on, the movie is a very unpredictable one.
Following the lives of two teenagers, Austin Abrams who plays Henry, a New Jersey high-school kid and a 17-year-old virgin and Grace, played by Lili Reinhart, a transfer student from another school who is beautiful, smart, given to reading Pablo Neruda in public and walks with a cane radiating an air of tragic, injured mystery.
Right from the time he sees her, he develops a serious crush on her. The entire movie is seen through Henry’s point of view so it’s easy to see how he finds her as an intriguing character and so standoffish.
Having missed the school bus at one time, he asks for a ride from Grace who agrees to drop him home in her car. As he continues day after day, taking a ride with her in her car and pursuing her he finds out that she has been living in the room of her deceased boyfriend, with his mother and father and is yet in love with him.
Chemical Hearts is all about dealing with complicated teenage emotions such as depression, suicide, sex and love but does so most straightforwardly and honestly. It is a rolling chaos and confusion of teenage life, of going through experiences.
Besides this, he is chosen to be an editor for the high school’s newspaper but alongside the new girl – Grace. Henry, who dreams of becoming a writer is thrilled and learns how to reflect more on his emotions contributing to the editorial of the magazine in profound ways where he essays about the biochemistry of teenagers.
There are many moments throughout the film such as at the Halloween party that they attend and their initial romantic days together which make us realise that the teenage years are more than just high school days and studies; but of profound personal growth as well.
Having received mostly positive reviews, this film is a very touching dramatic film about teenage love THAT SHOULD NOT BE MISSED!
6 Set Secrets From Chemical Hearts With Lili Reinhart and Austin Abrams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HahfHL8GCcY
