Fucking Åmål is a coming-of-age comedy set in a sleepy little Swedish town called Åmål -- the most boring place on earth according to adolescent Agnes, who moved there a year and a half ago. Agnes is not able to make friends at school; the fact she has to sit next to a girl in a wheelchair doesn't help, either. She's in love with Elin, but no one knows about it except her computer. The title comes from Elin's frequent comment about her new home town. For Agnes' birthday, her parents organize a big party, but she is convinced that no one will come. For lack of anything better to do on a Saturday night, 14-year-old Elin and her older sister arrive at Agnes' door, but Agnes is busy crying her eyes out. Left alone in Agnes' bedroom, the mischievous sisters take a look at the computer and what they discover prompts them to play a dirty joke. If Elin can let Agnes kiss her, her sister will pay her 20 krona. The deed is done; Agnes is flabbergasted and soon humiliated when she finds out that she's been had. Rumors spread around the school like wildfire, and Agnes is the talk of the town. But super cool Elin begins to feel guilty; moreover, she has to admit she was not exactly indifferent to the kiss. In his first feature film,
Lukas Moodysson shows the pains of growing up, particularly for a lesbian. Fucking Åmål was screened as part of the "Panorama" section of the 49th Berlin International Film Festival in 1999 and received the Teddy Award for Best Gay/Lesbian Film. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide