Following an impressive international tour, independent comedy/drama Fwends (fun use of Gen-Z spelling) is now streaming. Old friends, Jessie and Em, reunite for a weekend, and circumstances force them to pull an all-nighter, wandering the streets and suburbs of Melbourne.
When I first started going to Melbourne on my own, my idea of the city’s strangeness was epitomised by a homeless man sleeping inside the now-demolished Swanson Street McDonald’s, but I gradually became accustomed to the city’s eccentric side. Fwends keeps a safe distance from the anti-social elements that now plague Victoria’s capital, but wholeheartedly embraces a lot of its character and cultural diversity for the sake of tone. This charming feature is a light walking tour that sparks fond personal memories as Jessie proudly shows Em the various sights, from monuments in the CBD to the tranquil botanical gardens.
However, there is a slight over-reliance on what I think is safe to assume, improvised dialogue, which tends to stretch out a few scenes beyond their welcome. That aside, the crux of Fwends is an intimate portrait of two twenty-something women who are feeling somewhat lost as they navigate the pitfalls of young adulthood. It’s coupled nicely with the on-location backdrop of their early AM adventure.
Performances from the two leads, Melissa Gan and Emmanuelle Mattana, who played Jesse and Em, respectively, come across as very genuine with natural moments of initial awkwardness. They have strong chemistry, and the film, which is shot beautifully, capturing an array of vibrant colours, is certainly all the better for it.
Fwends has not been given a physical release, unfortunately, but is available to rent or buy on digital platforms, including Apple TV and Amazon Prime, thanks to Defiant Screen Entertainment, which generously provided a digital screener for this review.
FWENDS
(2025, director: Sophie Somerville)
★★★½
You can follow cinematic randomness on Facebook and Instagram where you’ll find all my cinematic exploits. Thank you for visiting!
