In the Norwegian teen coming of age film Psychobitch, Marius (Jonas Tidemann) is his high school’s high achiever. Frida (Elli Rhiannon Müller Osbourne), on the other hand, is emotionally troubled and always on the verge of flaming out. To help Frida, a well-meaning teacher pairs the odd couple on a group project. Odd couple humor ensues.
Frida is more than just a misfit, a high school outcast. She is battling a serious psychiatric disorder, and she often thinks suicidal thoughts and pushes away those who could help. “Psychobitch“, the best movie title in this year’s Cinequest, is Marius’ initial assessment of Frida.
Marius is devoutly conventional, and there is nothing that Frida rejects more enthusiastically than conventionality. But both of these kids are smart and fun-loving, and being with Frida reveals a funnier and more spirited Marius than had been apparent. Frida is a bundle of vitality, and her constant defiance turns out to be a mask.
Marius learns that there’s something about himself, an aspect of his personality, that is not working out for him. For Marius to be happy and to become his own man, there’s a change he needs to make.
Of course, all of this plays out in a high school, with its classes and detentions, cliques and proms. Cinequest Director of Programming Mike Rabehl noted that it has the air of a 1980s John Hughes film. If you squint, you can almost see Pretty in Pink with a bipolar Molly Ringwald.
This an audience-pleaser. Cinequest hosts the North American premiere of Psychobitch.