Overview
A poignant tale of young love and rebellion against societal norms.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- tender
- wistful
- quietly rebellious
- quiet evening
- romantic movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an emotionally engaging and endearing coming-of-age romance carried by strong performances and an understated script.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Danny's relationship with Thandiwe combines romantic discovery, sexual initiation, and growing emotional self-awareness.
Danny and Thandiwe's affair is opposed by the surrounding boarding-school culture and racial hostility.
Danny's school is marked by bullying and sadistic teachers who constrain the students' lives.
The film avoids overt melodrama while building its romance through small, carefully observed encounters and performances.
Films like Flirting, and why
The Year My Voice Broke
shared coming-of-age drama, adolescent romance, and quietly observant school setting
Dead Poets Society
shared boarding-school environment, youthful rebellion, and emotionally earnest period coming-of-age drama
Aimee & Jaguar
shared interracial romance, teenage sexuality, and tenderly bittersweet adolescent perspective
My Beautiful Laundrette
shared intimate teenage romance, social barriers, and restrained emotional realism
Movie Details
- Director
- John Duigan
- Release Date
- 1991-03-20
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (86)
Cast
- Noah Taylor
- Thandiwe Newton
- Nicole Kidman
- Bartholomew Rose
- Felix Nobis
- Josh Picker
- Kiri Paramore
- Marc Aden Gray
- Les Hill
- Naomi Watts
Common questions
- What is Flirting about?
- At an austere Australian boarding school, a shy teenager risks social punishment to pursue an interracial first love.
- What is Flirting like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Flirting as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Flirting violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Flirting as mild.
- What did critics think of Flirting?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an emotionally engaging and endearing coming-of-age romance carried by strong performances and an understated script.
- Which films are like Flirting?
- Films with a similar feel include The Year My Voice Broke, Dead Poets Society, Aimee & Jaguar, and My Beautiful Laundrette.
- How long is Flirting?
- Flirting runs 99 minutes.
