No Strings Attached follows a girl named Lauren (Janice Chua) who struggles to talk to others. She is quiet and thoughtful, the polar opposite of her social butterfly sister. Remembering the advice of her therapist, Lauren overcomes her shyness and finds her first true friend in Landon (Lucas Kim), a young boy who moves in across the street.
I like how the film's story progresses naturally. It begins with a scene that both highlight's Lauren's internal struggle and contrasts her personality with her sister's. This lays the foundation for the film and introduces the conflict before elaborating further using a flashback of a discussion Lauren had with her therapist, in which she discusses her feelings of being trapped in a moment in time and struggling to maintain a conversation. The cinematography is impressive; the film begins and ends with the same shot of two people with a long red string joining their fingers, which brings it full-circle. The first shot is focused on the string, temporarily blurring the people involved to bring the audience's attention to the string's significance. The string beautifully symbolizes the connection that two people make while engaging in a conversation. While Lauren's sister and her friend seem to be sharing one string, Lauren and Landon each have their own, suggesting they are yet to make a connection. At the end, Landon ties his string to Lauren's finger, representing the fact that he reached out to her and that she accepts his invitation. The last shot captures them walking off-screen together with the string in the center of the frame, highlighting the formation of their friendship.
The background music adds to the emotional depth of the film. It is most noticeable in the first half of the film, when Lauren's struggle is at its peak. In the first scene two girls are talking and laughing, having a seemingly light and upbeat conversation, but it is accompanied by heavy, almost gloomy music that suggests that there might be a deeper problem soon to be revealed. Combined with the acting, the somber music is what fully transported me to the state of loneliness that Lauren is experiencing. Lauren undergoes the most significant character development. A flashback near the beginning of the film displays the despondent emotional state she was in, frequently feeling trapped and held back by time as the rest of the world moves along at its normal pace. She tries hard to be outgoing and make friends, but she doesn't believe in her ability to do so. However, she overcomes this as the film progresses. She eventually achieves her goal of making a connection, which is physically represented as Landon tying his string to her finger. The direction is definitely worth mentioning - the cinematography, acting, and music are coordinated seamlessly, creating a film that leaves viewers with a fresh perspective of the people around them. This film left me thinking about the hidden battles people are facing and the connections we make that we can't always see. It is sure to make a strong emotional impact on its viewers.
My favorite character is Landon; he is a ray of sunshine who finds Lauren in her darkest hour and manages to cheer her up. Landon brings some much-needed humor and lightness to the otherwise heavily emotional film. Despite the age difference between Lauren and himself, Landon's cheerful sociability is enough to allow him to reach out to her, leading to a meaningful friendship.
The film's message is that connection is a two-way street. If you want to form a relationship with another person, you have to be willing to share a part of yourself. Reaching out can be tough, but it will be worth it once you find your true friends, and once you have them in your life, you will be glad you had the courage to speak up!
I give No Strings Attached 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. This title qualifies as having an Asian American focus, because many of the cast members are Asian American. It also qualifies for Mental Health Awareness, as the main character struggles with her mental health. By Ella S., KIDS FIRST!
No Strings Attached follows a girl named Lauren (Janice Chua) who struggles to talk to others. She is quiet and thoughtful, the polar opposite of her social butterfly sister. Remembering the advice of her therapist, Lauren overcomes her shyness and finds her first true friend in Landon (Lucas Kim), a young boy who moves in across the street.
I like how the film's story progresses naturally. It begins with a scene that both highlight's Lauren's internal struggle and contrasts her personality with her sister's. This lays the foundation for the film and introduces the conflict before elaborating further using a flashback of a discussion Lauren had with her therapist, in which she discusses her feelings of being trapped in a moment in time and struggling to maintain a conversation. The cinematography is impressive; the film begins and ends with the same shot of two people with a long red string joining their fingers, which brings it full-circle. The first shot is focused on the string, temporarily blurring the people involved to bring the audience's attention to the string's significance. The string beautifully symbolizes the connection that two people make while engaging in a conversation. While Lauren's sister and her friend seem to be sharing one string, Lauren and Landon each have their own, suggesting they are yet to make a connection. At the end, Landon ties his string to Lauren's finger, representing the fact that he reached out to her and that she accepts his invitation. The last shot captures them walking off-screen together with the string in the center of the frame, highlighting the formation of their friendship.
The background music adds to the emotional depth of the film. It is most noticeable in the first half of the film, when Lauren's struggle is at its peak. In the first scene two girls are talking and laughing, having a seemingly light and upbeat conversation, but it is accompanied by heavy, almost gloomy music that suggests that there might be a deeper problem soon to be revealed. Combined with the acting, the somber music is what fully transported me to the state of loneliness that Lauren is experiencing. Lauren undergoes the most significant character development. A flashback near the beginning of the film displays the despondent emotional state she was in, frequently feeling trapped and held back by time as the rest of the world moves along at its normal pace. She tries hard to be outgoing and make friends, but she doesn't believe in her ability to do so. However, she overcomes this as the film progresses. She eventually achieves her goal of making a connection, which is physically represented as Landon tying his string to her finger. The direction is definitely worth mentioning - the cinematography, acting, and music are coordinated seamlessly, creating a film that leaves viewers with a fresh perspective of the people around them. This film left me thinking about the hidden battles people are facing and the connections we make that we can't always see. It is sure to make a strong emotional impact on its viewers.
My favorite character is Landon; he is a ray of sunshine who finds Lauren in her darkest hour and manages to cheer her up. Landon brings some much-needed humor and lightness to the otherwise heavily emotional film. Despite the age difference between Lauren and himself, Landon's cheerful sociability is enough to allow him to reach out to her, leading to a meaningful friendship.
The film's message is that connection is a two-way street. If you want to form a relationship with another person, you have to be willing to share a part of yourself. Reaching out can be tough, but it will be worth it once you find your true friends, and once you have them in your life, you will be glad you had the courage to speak up!
I give No Strings Attached 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. This title qualifies as having an Asian American focus, because many of the cast members are Asian American. It also qualifies for Mental Health Awareness, as the main character struggles with her mental health. By Ella S., KIDS FIRST!
KIDS FIRST! Goes Local: Submit a review & win!
