Sweetheart Movie Review

『Sweetheart (2021) - Tender Moments of First Love and Self-Discovery』

🎥 Movie Overview

🎬 Title: Sweetheart (2021)
🌍 Country: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
🎞️ Genre: Coming-of-Age Drama / LGBTQ+
📢 Director & Writer: Marley Morrison

👩‍💼 Cast: Nell Barlow – AJ, Ella-Rae Smith – Isla

🧩 Story Deep Dive (Spoilers)

🌊 Bittersweet Growing Pains by the Seaside

The film opens with AJ, a 17-year-old girl who struggles with social interaction and is obsessed with environmental issues. She is reluctantly dragged on a family summer trip to an old and tacky seaside caravan park in England. AJ despises this dull and suffocating place, but everything changes when she meets Isla, a charming and free-spirited lifeguard who works there.

🩳 Separating Sexuality from Gender Expression

What makes Sweetheart stand out among queer coming-of-age films is that AJ’s lesbian identity is already accepted by her family, but her masculine gender expression remains a source of conflict.

• Conditional Acceptance by Family: AJ’s mother, Tina, accepts her daughter’s sexuality but still wishes she would “dress more normally (like Jodie Foster)” and be more sociable. This perfectly captures the subtle family pressure many queer teens face — the idea of “I’m okay with who you are, just don’t make it too visible.”
• Lonely Rebellion: With her bucket hat, worn-out clothes, and cynical attitude, AJ uses her style as armor, quietly rebelling against both family expectations and social norms. Her defensive behavior reflects her deep-seated anxiety and self-doubt.

🌅 The 'Ideal Type' in a Hated Vacation

While AJ distances herself from her family and despises the vacation setting, Isla becomes the only bright spot in this dull environment.

• AJ’s Perspective: To AJ, Isla represents everything she can’t be — confidence, beauty, charisma, and social ease. Isla is an idealized savior figure who disrupts AJ’s cynical worldview. Though AJ is instantly drawn to Isla, she tells herself, “Girls like her don’t like girls like me,” revealing her deep lack of self-esteem.
• Isla’s Appeal: Isla might appear to be the archetypal “cool girl,” but she is intrigued by AJ’s intelligent, sarcastic humor and sees a genuine spark. Unlike others, Isla doesn’t care about AJ’s masculine clothing or awkwardness — she finds her authentically attractive. For Isla, AJ becomes a refreshing and unexpected spark in her monotonous seaside life.

🏊‍♀️ Breaking Down Defenses and First Vulnerabilities

As Isla draws closer, AJ begins to let down her emotional guard for the first time.

• Freedom in Being Seen: Unlike with her family or peers, AJ doesn’t have to worry about how she looks or expresses her gender around Isla. Isla never pressures her to dress more femininely, and through their connection, AJ realizes that the way she chooses to present herself — bucket hat and all — can still be loved. The film emphasizes that freedom of gender expression is as vital as sexual identity itself.
• Awkward Intimacy: Their romance unfolds with all the awkwardness, impulsiveness, and tenderness of teenage first love. Their first physical interactions are not glamorous or sexualized but instead uncomfortably realistic, capturing the raw vulnerability of inexperienced youth. This awkwardness reinforces how significant and sincere this connection is for AJ.
• Self-Destructive Patterns: AJ’s fear that she’s “not good enough” for Isla leads her to misinterpret Isla’s intentions and push her away. This reflects the familiar teenage impulse to “ruin something good before it hurts too much.”

🏖️ The Limits of a Summer Romance and the Growth It Brings

Their relationship, confined to the short span of a summer holiday, inevitably faces its limits. Yet, it doesn’t end in tragedy — instead, it leaves AJ with a newfound sense of self-assurance.

• A Bridge to Family Reconciliation: The emotional turbulence of AJ’s relationship with Isla indirectly brings her closer to her family. Watching her daughter’s heartbreak, Tina begins to accept AJ’s emotions and identity without conditions, learning to love her for who she is.
• Temporary Savior, Lasting Impact: Isla doesn’t stay in AJ’s life forever, but she gives AJ the most important realization — “I can be loved for exactly who I am.” Though fleeting, this summer romance becomes a permanent turning point in AJ’s journey toward confidence and authenticity.

🤿 Salvation and Self-Acceptance in a Summer of Love

The relationship between AJ and Isla is the emotional centerpiece of Sweetheart and a clever subversion of common queer film clichés. Their connection transcends mere acceptance of sexual identity — it’s about realizing that one can be loved while being completely oneself. For AJ, Isla isn’t just a first love; she is the “sweetheart” who teaches her self-affirmation. By the film’s end, AJ is ready to walk her own path, no longer hiding behind cynicism or fear.

🎯 Personal Rating

💕 Love Scene Intensity: ♥♥
⭐ Rating: ★★★