first love movie review

“First Love” is an earnest but unremarkable romance wrapped around an intelligent and sometimes powerful story of the destruction that capitalism inflicts on middle-class American families. 

“First Love” is written and directed by A.J. Edwards, a protege of visionary spiritualist Terrence Malick who has made two films in a Malickian vein (“ The Better Angels ” and “Age Out”), but this third effort is more of a straightforward ensemble drama. Set in the aftermath of the financial collapse of late 2008 during George Bush’s second term, it follows one American family, the Albrights, as they try to survive and readjust to drastically reduced economic prospects. The father, Glenn, gets laid off from the financial sector and seems unable to accept that he might never again have a job as prominent as the one that was taken from him. His wife Kay (“Better Angels” costar  Diane Kruger , who coproduced here) eventually offers to take a second job and runs headlong into the barrier of her husband’s pride.

The dialogue that articulates the Albright’s tight situation is often bland and oversimplified, but it’s still a (pleasant) shock to see an American feature film dealing with the financial collapse in something other then genre-based metaphors (as, for example, the excellent crime thriller “ Killing Them Softly ” did). 

When Kay goes to the bank to try to get a loan, the bank officer looks at her application and wants to know if her husband is sick, and if not, why he isn’t working. “Even a minimum-wage job would look better on the record than things are now,” he says. 

We later learn that friends and family members have largely abandoned the Albrights in their time of distress. There’s a paranoid intimation that people have stopped answering their phone calls because they don’t want to hear about their suffering or risk being asked for money. When the priest at their church says, “Where is the pleasure in life that is unmixed with sorrow?” it sounds less like a balm than a cop-out. “This place is a box,” Glenn grouses after the family moves into a more affordable place.

The big problem with this movie is that it focuses more than half of its running time on a vanilla romance between Glenn and Kay’s teenage son Jim ( Hero Fiennes Tiffin , son of director Martha Fiennes and nephew of actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes ) and his classmate Ann ( Sydney Park ). The film is at its most Malick-like when focusing on the young couple, but not in a good way. Edwards, cinematographer Jeff Bierman, and editor Alec Styborski serve up lyrical montages and dreamy, silent-with-music imagery as if hoping to capture some of the mysterious magic of the central love stories in Malick’s “ The New World ” and “ To the Wonder .” 

But there’s no evident substance or complexity to either character, and the beats are so familiar as to seem obligatory (including the mandatory breakup midway through). It often seems as if the filmmaking is trying to add a ballast. Jim and Ann vacuuming up the film’s running time also means that the more grounded and complicated struggles of the parents and their adult relatives and colleagues don’t get the scrutiny they deserve. 

And it doesn’t do the movie any favors that the interracial/cross-cultural aspects of the relationship go largely unexplored, save for a brief exchange of Spanish in their first conversation in a school hallway. Nor does the film have much to say about the discrepancy between how the two families live, financial crash or no financial crash, and how the gap between haves and have-nots might be a part of the larger story of the crash. 

The untapped potential here is considerable, though the cinematography and performances ensure that the film remains watchable. Kruger and Donovan are particularly effective in closeups where contradictory feelings play across their faces. (Glenn’s smiling-through-the-pain expression as he’s being laid off is perfect: he’s still the model employee, trying to prove that the company was right to have hired him even as they discuss his severance package.) And Diane Venora is smashing in a small role as Kay’s distressed and embittered aunt, who raised Kay after her mother abandoned her but now has to be put into a home because she’s no longer capable of living by herself. This is a good movie with stirring passages that suffers mainly from a lack of self-knowledge. It concentrates on things we’ve seen a million times when it could have focused on things that American movies never have the guts to show us.

Now on VOD.

Matt Zoller Seitz

Matt Zoller Seitz is the Editor-at-Large of RogerEbert.com, TV critic for New York Magazine and Vulture.com, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism.

• Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Jim Albright
• Sydney Park as Ann
• Diane Kruger as Kay Albright
• Jeffrey Donovan as Glenn Albright
• A.J. Edwards
• Lucas Jarach
• Nadine de Barros

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Common Sense Media Review

Unconditional love, sex in sigh-inducing teen romance.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that First Love centers on the romance between a young high school couple. Teens have sex (the side of a breast is visible), as do adults. A mother advises her daughter to experiment and have multiple partners before settling down. "A--hole" is said, and college students and adults drink…

Why Age 14+?

High schoolers have sex, with a teen girl demonstrating sexual agency and a teen

Brief scuffle. Reference to a character's statement indicating that he may be ha

College students drink beer, and adults are seen drinking at a celebration and w

Any Positive Content?

Love endures -- and takes many forms. Unconditional love means being there when

The two primary characters, a mother and a son, both quietly demonstrate love in

Story revolves around a young interracial couple. Racial diversity in the workfo

Sex, Romance & Nudity

High schoolers have sex, with a teen girl demonstrating sexual agency and a teen boy demonstrating how to ask for consent. The side of the girl's breast is seen when she's lying under the covers. A couple who've been together for more than two decades also have sex, showing that passion persists in long-term, committed relationships. A mother advises her daughter to experiment and have multiple partners before settling down. In a nonsexual moment, a teen girl is shown in her underwear and a tank top.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

Brief scuffle. Reference to a character's statement indicating that he may be having suicidal ideation.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

College students drink beer, and adults are seen drinking at a celebration and with dinner, but no one drinks to excess.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Love endures -- and takes many forms. Unconditional love means being there when things aren't going well, exists even when someone is no longer in your life. Illustrates the adage "If you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, it's yours forever. If it doesn't, then it was never meant to be."

Positive Role Models

The two primary characters, a mother and a son, both quietly demonstrate love in several forms, as well as integrity, patience, and steadfastness. Ann, the teen romantic interest, is smart, independent, mature, willing to have opinions that are different from her friends'. Jim and Ann demonstrate a respectful beginning, progression, breakup, and reunion in a relationship of equals.

Diverse Representations

Story revolves around a young interracial couple. Racial diversity in the workforce. Plot shows many different examples of love, not just romantic, including a woman who's taking care of her former childhood guardian.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Parents need to know that First Love centers on the romance between a young high school couple. Teens have sex (the side of a breast is visible), as do adults. A mother advises her daughter to experiment and have multiple partners before settling down. "A--hole" is said, and college students and adults drink socially. The teens' intense feelings may leave younger viewers in wistful anticipation. But other love stories are told here, too, including that of a long-lasting marriage and the love for a parent and guardian. All of this serves as a memorable demonstration that unconditional love means being there when things aren't going well -- and exists even when someone is no longer in your life. And it illustrates the adage: "If you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, it's yours forever. If it doesn't, then it was never meant to be." The film takes place during the recession of 2008, which is why a character loses his job and has a hard time finding another. Characters are Eastern Orthodox Christian, and a priest makes appearances throughout, but their faith is character driven, not story driven. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

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What's the Story?

FIRST LOVE follows the high school romance of Jim ( Hero Fiennes Tiffin) and Ann ( Sydney Par k) as they approach graduation. At the same time, Jim's parents are struggling with financial hardship after Jim's dad ( Jeffrey Donovan ) is laid off.

Is It Any Good?

Of all the teen romance movies out there, A.J. Edwards has created one of the loveliest and most meaningful. It's quiet and still, almost like a sculpture you walk around slowly until you realize you've come full circle. In comparing Jim and Ann's blooming, hopeful love with the steadfast love of Jim's parents, Kim ( Diane Kruger ) and Greg, whose marriage is being tested by financial strain, First Love reveals what "happily ever after" really looks like. As those in long-term marriages well know, commitment isn't all sunshine. Sometimes it rains. For years. But soul mates stick together for the rainbows.

Jim and Ann's romance is the full sigh. They fall in love through meaningful looks, gentle laughs, and mature outlooks (so mature, at times, they may lose a bit of relatability). The flourish is George Kallis' poignant score: Similar to Somewhere in Time 's unforgettable use of Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini," the slow piano and violin whispers in First Love intensify to allow the sweetness of the teens' emotions to reach the viewers' hearts. Adults will be brought back to those first butterflies and feeling like you have a heart that simultaneously stops and beats loudly; teens will hold their breath, dreaming of the moment when they meet someone special. It's telling that a priest character pops in at the beginning, the middle, and the end of the film, given how well the story exemplifies the oft-quoted scripture "Love is patient and kind..." First Love isn't a big film, and it doesn't make a loud statement -- but it's incredibly satisfying. For parents of lovestruck high schoolers in search of a film to help them realize what long-term commitment means beyond "I do," First Love is "the one."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the meaning of "unconditional love." What examples did you see of it in First Love ? In real life?

What does Greg mean when he tells Jim about Ann, "If you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, it's yours forever. If it doesn't, then it was never meant to be."

How do characters demonstrate humility and integrity ? Why are those important character strengths?

When Greg is discouraged, Kim advises him to embrace gratitude . How can gratitude get us through tough times and help fend off feelings of depression? How does Kim demonstrate her gratitude?

Movie Details

• In theaters : June 17, 2022
• On DVD or streaming : June 17, 2022
• Cast : Jeffrey Donovan , Hero Fiennes Tiffin , Sydney Park
• Director : A.J. Edwards
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Asian actors, Black actors
• Studio : Vertical Entertainment
• Genre : Romance
• Topics : Great Boy Role Models , High School
• Character Strengths : Gratitude , Integrity
• Run time : 120 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Last updated : September 4, 2022

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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First Love movie review: Playing truant with romance

Updated on: 20 September,2024 06:08 PM IST  |  Mumbai Johnson Thomas | [email protected]

• Text  

This film is written and directed by A.J. Edwards, better referenced as being a  protege of filmmaker spiritualist Terrence Malick. This third effort by him is a drama that lacks emotion and weighty byplay. 

Stills from the movie First Love

Film: First love Cast: Diane Kruger, Nikolai Tsankov, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Jeffrey Donovan Director: A.J. Edwards Rating: 2/5 Runtime: 96 min

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“First Love” is a sincere but rather mundane romance sutured into a story about how capitalism has failed American middle-class families . This film is written and directed by A.J. Edwards, better referenced as being a  protege of filmmaker spiritualist Terrence Malick. This third effort by him is a drama that lacks emotion and weighty byplay.     Set during George Bush’s second term in the Oval office, in the aftermath of the financial collapse of late 2008, the narrative highlights the trials faced by one American family, the Albrights, who are now finding it difficult to readjust to drastically reduced economic prospects. The father, Greg (Jeffrey Donovan), gets laid off from a high-paying job in the financial sector and is unable to face the fact that he may never earn that kind of money ever again. His wife Kay (Diane Kruger) offers to take-up a second job after hearing about her sister-in-law doing the same but her husband’s foolhardy pride puts paid to that.    The narrative focuses more than half its runtime on a rather inconsequential teen romance between Greg and Kay’s teenage son Jim (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) and his classmate Ann (Sydney Park). The cinematography and editing try, rather ineffectively to make the romance feel lyrical and dreamy in an effort to contrast it with the struggle of the parents. It just doesn’t work up any steam though. The complexity is missing and the lack of substance is galling. And neither of the stories are interesting. The parents struggle had promise but it remains underdeveloped.    First Love is tepid and boring. It doesn’t play like a true-blue romance. The shot composition, the editing, the sound, the cinematography - all leave a lot to be desired.  There’s no real tempo going into this economic distress drama so the audience is more likely to feel disconnected from what is going on even if they identify with the crisis that is central to this story. The dialogue sounds insipid and uninteresting. There’s nothing really intriguing or exciting here. to experience here. Aja’s efforts don’t really come good.

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• Cast & crew
• User reviews

The story is described as a poignant look at a young man's difficult entry into adulthood. The story is described as a poignant look at a young man's difficult entry into adulthood. The story is described as a poignant look at a young man's difficult entry into adulthood.

• A.J. Edwards
• Diane Kruger
• Nikolai Tsankov
• Hero Fiennes Tiffin
• 25 User reviews
• 14 Critic reviews

Top cast 20

• Kay Albright

• Jim Albright

• Casey Albright

• Greg Albright

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• Runtime 1 hour 36 minutes

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‘First Love’: More of a fling than a true romance

As Hollywood studios continue to plumb new depths in search of pre-existing intellectual property to adapt, they might look to Japan’s growing subgenre of movies and TV shows based on songs. There’s been a steady drip of them over the past few years, spinning yarns from popular hits by artists from Akiko Yano (Koji Fukada’s “Love Life” ) to Mika Nakashima (Kojiro Hashimoto’s “Snow Flower”).

Writer and director Yuri Kanchiku — who helms all nine episodes — uses these rudimentary pointers as the basis for a story spanning two decades, following its characters from the first flush of adolescent romance to the disappointments and second chances of 30-something adulthood.

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First Love (2022): Movie Review & Ending Explained

Written and directed by AJ Edwards, ‘First Love (2022)’ is a romantic drama, now streaming on Hulu. Starring Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds), Hero Fiennes Tiffin (‘After’ Film series), Sydney Park, Jeffrey Donovan (Law & Order), and Sharon Leal among others, it presents a story of a family and of a young couple at the time of a financial crisis. We get to witness a boy’s growth into adulthood, with a romantic partner to anchor him through it. While following the footsteps of the classics like Richard Linklater ’s Boyhood to Hirokazu Koreeda ’s Like Father, Like Son, it attempts to be a poignant look at a young man’s journey.

First Love (2022) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:

Kay (Diane Kruger) & Greg Albright (Jeffrey Donovan) live a satisfying life along with their two sons. At the time of the recession from 2008, Greg was one of the employees, who was laid off due to the major financial crisis. Since he is almost in his 40s, it is difficult for him to find a new job, make a living, and navigate a new way of life. Meanwhile, his teenage son – Jim (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) falls in love with Ann (Sydney Park) from his school. From trying to strike up a minimal conversation, their tender relationship starts blossoming soon after with a sense of connection.

Kay struggles with her responsibility to take care of her Aunt Irene, whereas Greg struggles to find a job that can suit his level of expertise. His brother, whose job does not get affected by the recession, makes him worthless in his position. However, he is still optimistic that something will work out for him, sooner or later. On the other hand, Jim goes through his stages of growing up while trying to be emotionally closer to Ann. Even when her girlfriends make fun of Jim’s quiet, aloof side, she is so smitten by him that she does not pay heed to those superficial details.

For Kay, her Aunt Irene is a source of the connection she strives to hold on to. At home, she is not too pleased that Jim’s ambitions in the banking sector have crumbled down that he is left with lying to peers about his job profile. While they struggle to find a sense of intimacy amidst their emotional distance, Jim and Ann work upon the new stage of their teenage lives.

Until then, they could live as they pleased and cherished each other’s company any time they wanted to. However, ambitions become primary in that particular stage of life and Ann’s mother also advises her to not let her focus on them drift for the sake of a boy. Her advice also reflects her years of understanding and some possible regrets of her own. Afterward, her daughter broaches the subject of her departure to New York for further education from their suburban neighborhood. Jim considers it to be a matter of no worry and notes that they can continue being together despite that. Perhaps that makes her feel stuck and her silence reflects the same.

Meanwhile, after having no success for months in finding a job, Kay is told that Greg needs to get one in order to sustain their current lifestyle. He suggests downsizing and that sounds like a massive crisis to her since both have enjoyed the joys of privilege for her and her family until then. To make their family’s financial profile look better, he needs to find at least a minimum-wage job, which he does not want since it does not match his level of caliber. While Jim is aware of the financial struggles at home, he tries to find a sense of belonging with Ann, who is looking for a way out. Even when they have a few moments of intimacy, her reaction to them reflects feeling stuck in her current life. Their relationship ends on an awkward note of silence and their paths diverge.

While Kay and Greg move to a new, smaller place as a part of downsizing, Kay struggles with coping with this new way of living, where survival takes precedence over pleasure. On the other hand, Jim moves out for his education and seeks a new identity. About two years of his new experiences, he returns to his hometown and meets Ann again, who has matured just like he has. Their conversation reflects their understanding of life as young adults, who forgive each other for the past they shared and seek intimacy again, like a new-found love.

First Love (2022) Movie Review:

An uninspired terrence mallick knock-off.

As a genre, coming-of-age has had a particular set pattern. A person moving from a stage of immaturity to maturity, from naivety to self-awareness, where the moments in their lives often lead to some sort of epiphany. They look at themselves and see how far they have come and what they have left behind. Richard Linklater’s Boyhood finds tenders spots in its saga of realizations, where its naturalism impacts the deepest. Barry Jenkins’ moving Moonlight finds its character’s eternal struggle to fit in in a world that just does not want to accept him. Such films become classics because of their layers beyond the basic plotline.

A. J. Edwards’ ‘First Love’ suffers from an utter lack of such layers. Even when it shows a white teen and his family trying to cope during a financial crisis, nothing seems urgent. The stakes in their lives do not matter since they have a fairly privileged life. Throughout its duration, the film focuses on the family’s struggle with meeting the living standards they were used to, in the past. They are restrained by their own idea of status, and it is difficult to sympathize with such a family.

What appears as struggles to them appear to be first-world problems. And I do not mean that the financial crisis was not devastating and that it did not shake the foundations of the global economy and uprooted several lives. But struggling because of feeling ashamed that you are not earning as before and not living up to the standards from the past, feels like a sob story, especially when there are several more pressing issues in the world. It could have still been interesting to see Jim’s way of processing these events being navigated, besides his discovery of love.

However, First Love does not rise above the trope constraints to narrate his journey and relies on the tenderness of its narration. You sense a stylistic inspiration of the likes of Terrence Mallick, especially through the camera movements and voiceovers, in a way that feels unoriginal. What stands out in the film is a grounded performance by Diane Kruger, who keeps you invested in her struggle, to the point you care about these individuals at times. Even the young actor – Sydney Park is highly impressive in her nuanced portrayal of a young adult. Unfortunately, none of that is enough to make up for the script’s limitations and contrivances.

First Love (2022) Movie Ending, Explained:

While Ann and Jim get back into a relationship together, Kay and Greg still struggle to make peace with their new downsized lives. After years of not finding a suitable job, Greg stays stuck to his couch and prefers watching television to contributing to the family’s finances in any shape or form. After their heated argument about this subject, he drives back to their old place along with her, and they have an intimate meal together. During that time, he broaches a subject of moving to a different country to get the kind of life they were used to living.

On the other hand, the young couple of Jim and Ann decide to get married to commemorate their bond together. At his wedding, Kay gets emotional about how fast he grew up and how little time they could spend together as a parent and a child. He promises her that he will stay just as close to her and not make her feel abandoned.

In the end, Greg gives a wedding speech about the significance of moments such as this wedding, which become memories that we hold dear for the rest of our lives. On this sentimental note that showcases all its central characters finding connection with another being, A. J. Edwards’ First Love chooses to end its coming-of-age tale.

Also Read: The Loneliest Boy In The World (2022) Movie Ending, Explained

First Love (2022) Movie Links: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes First Love (2022) Movie Cast: Diane Kruger, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Sydney Park, Jeffrey Donovan

Where to watch first love (2022).

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First Love review – a sometimes lovely, longwinded romance

First Love  has its share of effective elements, but its well-worn plot beats are strung out over a runtime much too spacious for them to fill.

This review of First Love is spoiler-free.

First Love is what the kids these days might describe as “a vibe”. The nine-part Netflix series is based on two songs by Hikaru Utada – “First Love” and “Hatsukoi”, and it doesn’t really get more vibe-y than that, does it?

This longwinded romantic drama out of Japan is a familiar thing, perhaps to its detriment. All the usual beats are present and accounted for, some unnecessarily drawn-out or hampered by a needlessly convoluted structure, but there’s also some comfort to the predictability. First Love delivers those feelings of giddy young love, of painful separation, long absences, and sudden reconciliations in spades. It’s at least a couple of episodes too long, but it’s impressive in its construction, visuals, performances, and emotional power.

The love story of Yae Noguchi ( Hikari Mitsushima ) and Harumichi Namiki ( Takeru Satoh ) takes place over multiple time periods, swapping between actors and – that word again – vibes as it goes. It can be confusing in its execution, and sometimes too wavering in its focus. Yae has dreams of being a flight attendant but is forced to contend with the repercussions of an accident that affects her short-term memory; Harumichi becomes a pilot in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, which comes with a lot of moral and social responsibility. Both drift together and then apart and then together again through various circumstances, some outside of their control and some driven by their own decision-making, though most, admittedly, a little too fanciful and made-for-TV to be bought into entirely.

But the actors really sell all the ups and downs, which helps the audience to get invested, and there’s a lot of surface-level beauty to take in if you’re of a mind for it. Its themes of love, responsibility, and fate are well-developed across the episodes, meaning that when it counts, First Love can satisfy emotionally.

It takes a while to get there, though. I know I’m always complaining about the length of shows, but in an age of so much content , these things matter; they influence how people choose to consume things. First Love doesn’t have enough story to fill nine hours, and that becomes obvious quickly. Once that idea has settled in the plot beats do begin to feel a little reiterative, the flashbacks a little plodding, the interactions a little strained, and so on, and so forth, as though the show is simply idling to pad the runtime.

Not to be too downbeat, obviously. A healthy contingent of viewers are going to really love and relate to this, and good for them. The cast’s efforts are worthy of that attention, and word of mouth will benefit First Love . But I think it has a somewhat niche appeal, mostly suited to big fans of the genre or the talent involved – those looking for a nippy binge-watch or anything legitimately fresh will be mildly impressed but probably not quite satisfied.

Additional reading:

• First Love  ending explained .
• Will there be a  First Love  season 2?

Article by Jonathon Wilson

Jonathon is one of the co-founders of Ready Steady Cut and has been an instrumental part of the team since its inception in 2017. Jonathon has remained involved in all aspects of the site’s operation, mainly dedicated to its content output, remaining one of its primary Entertainment writers while also functioning as our dedicated Commissioning Editor, publishing over 6,500 articles.

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First Love Reviews

The film's lack of focus on its socio-economic themes and overreliance on a lackluster romance ultimately leave First Love feeling unsatisfying. It's a watchable film, but one that doesn't live up to the promise of its premise.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Sep 23, 2024

The untapped potential here is considerable, though the cinematography and performances ensure that the film remains watchable.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jun 27, 2022

An uncommonly gentle romantic drama with a believable ground level story which more or less holds the interest, but the development of the young romance is too generic, largely accomplished in montage.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 26, 2022

First Love ... is about half an engaging and persuasive story.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 17, 2022

Edwards’ project is stunning in singular moments and ultimately unable to reign its sprawling ideas and characters into a cohesive vision.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Jun 17, 2022

Unconditional love, sex in sigh-inducing teen romance.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 14, 2022