Product Details

• Actors: Atli Oskar Fjalarsson, Hreindis Ylva Gardarsdottir, Haraldur Ari Stefansson, Elias Helgi Kofoed-Hansen, Birna Run Eiriksdottir
• Directors: Baldvin Z
• Format: Anamorphic, Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: TLA Releasing
• DVD Release Date: March 27, 2012
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00657PLN8
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,242 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Review

This energetic coming-of-age drama follows a closeted boy and his group of trouble-prone friends, providing a positive, fun look at young people today. Nominated for all the major categories at this year s EDDA Awards (Iceland s Oscars), Jitters captures the excitement and traumas of a group of Icelandic teenagers as they tentatively enter young adulthood. It is also, through the lead character, a knowing and uplifting gay coming-of-age drama. On an English immersion trip to Manchester, uptight teen Gabriel s roommate is free-spirited Marcus. They become friends and on their last night together, share a tender kiss. But romance is ended when they go their separate ways and return home. Family and friends notice a change in the thin, handsome Gabriel, who realizes he is gay but decides to keep it a secret. But he has little time to mope, for between parties and excursions, his friends have their own set of problems: there is a girl who likes him and is frustrated at his lack of response; his troubled friend desperately wants to meet her real father; and Gabriel s best friend is developing a drinking problem. When Marcus returns to the scene, it forces Gabriel to make a decision. An attractive, energetic ensemble cast and a driving, pulsating soundtrack are highlights of this teen comedy/drama that is filled with young people s traumas, but still remains buoyant and insightful. --Raymond Murray

After a strong domestic run, this well-cast, convincingly performed pic is claiming kudos at youth fests. Gay fests should also take note. --Variety

Product Description

This energetic coming-of-age drama follows a closeted boy and his group of trouble-prone friends, providing a positive, fun look at young people today. If you like MTV's 'Skins', 'Degrassi High', ABC Family's 'The Secret Life Of The American Teenager' and ABC's & 'My So-Called Life'; - but GAY - you'll love 'Jitters'.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unflinching and terrific April 22, 2012

By Doubleblue

Amazon Verified Purchase

Superb coming-of-age drama about an Icelandic teen who begins to come to terms with his sexuality after spending three weeks at an educational program in England. One of the many great things about this movie is that it puts the coming-out experience into the context of today, where coping with sexual feelings is but one of the many pressures that young people face. The director captures the teen social scene with remarkable believability (most of the film is set in Iceland but really could be taking place anywhere) and in doing so does not spare us any detail. The story takes a few harrowing turns but ultimately ends on a sweet and hopeful note. One of the best "coming out" films that I've seen in a long time.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Heart Breakingly Good Film from Iceland. June 9, 2012

By Tommy D TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Gabriel (Atli Oskar Fjalarsson)is slowly realising that he might be gay, he likes his female friends but has no compulsion to do any more than just `hang' with them. So on a summer English school to `sunny' Manchester he rooms up with outgoing and would be hairdresser, Markus (Haralder Ari Stefansson) and after a drunken party they share a kiss. It seems to mean more to Gabriel than Markus and on returning to Iceland his over bearing mother knows something has changed him. So like any caring but annoying mum she calls a family meeting. This involves a painful meeting with both real dad and step dad all trying to be overly PC whilst being border line stalkers.

We also have his best mate, hard drinking and womanising Teddi, who is the exact opposite of the caring thoughtful Gabriel. There are also the tales of his other friends especially Stella and Greta who all have familial and emotional issues which they invariably share with Gabriel in a trouble shared is a troubled halved kind of way. What actually happens is it becomes a trouble shared is a trouble doubled way instead. One has an alcoholic loose moraled mother who won't tell her who her father is. The other is living with an over protective grandmother who doesn't want her to turn out like her mother. They spend their time planning for an uncertain future and having parties where copious amounts of alcohol are consumed as a prelude to non committal sex, except for Teddi (but not always).

There have been comparisons with `Skins' which is unfortunate as this most certainly is not. What director Baldvin Zophoniasson has created is a multi layered tale of kids becoming adults and not really knowing what they are doing. This is a state we have all been through at that particular time in life. The gay strand is one of many issues that is dealt with along with identity, belonging and independenec. And I must say there is a lot packed into this 93 minutes, so much so that I have seen it twice and it lost little of its impact on a second viewing.

It is slow in places and it can be said to be overly complicated in terms of breadth, but found it utterly absorbing and both well acted and filmed. I admire most world cinema and think that efforts like this should be applauded. There is little in the way of bedroom scenes as this is more about relationships and I do not think it suffers for it. A well made and presented film that deserves a lot more attention than it has currently received - highly recommended to fans of world cinema but not teen soft porn if that is your bag.

4.0 out of 5 stars Complicated May 22, 2013

By James Peulecke

Amazon Verified Purchase

Good story but hard to follow. It was a little confusing at times. Part of the problem was the two languages and having to deal with sub-titles, too.