Critic Reviews

• Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader

  Director Alexis Dos Santos stressed improvisation, and his scenes have a lingering emotional rawness, but the handheld camera work left me feeling as woozy as the characters appear to be.

• Tom Huddlestone, Time Out

  There's real promise in 'Unmade Beds': the photography is luminous, the direction loose but involving, the acting superb. But ultimately it's a joyless, indulgent film about joyless, indulgent people.

• Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

  Overly familiar but endearing nonetheless, this coming-of-age indie from Alexis Dos Santos is most likely to appeal to those who recognize themselves in the story's lost heroes.

• Manohla Dargis, New York Times

  A lovely, somewhat messy movie about lovely, messy young lives.

• Kevin Lee, Time Out New York

  The conventions of contemporary youth culture and cinema could both use a change of sheets.

• Anthony Kaufman, Village Voice

  Despite some missteps (a parachute metaphor is particularly belabored), the film has an intoxicating quality.

• Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

  If it weren't for the kick-ass pop soundtrack, with tunes like Hot Monkey, I would have tuned out long before the last reel.

• Anna Smith, Empire Magazine

  Light and entertaining, if a little clunky at times.

• , Film4

  Stay away action fans, this is not a film for you. But if you identify with the lifestyles of these characters, you might just find this small dreamlike film speaks to you.

• Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]

  An easy-going, garrulous, likable piece.

• Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph

  A keen, scruffy, colourful and buoyant film.

• Laurence Boyce, Little White Lies

  It's refreshing to see a film about youth that doesn't resort to the clichés of drug abuse gone wrong. While its lack of narrative thrust can render it a little too loose for its own good, Unmade Beds still manages to charm and entice.

• Rob Daniel, Sky Movies

  Reminiscent of Francois Truffaut or Wong Kar-wai at their most romantic, this, suitably enough, has cult sleeper written all over it.

• Tom Dawson, Total Film

  Beautifully shot on HD video and Super 16mm, this tender film channels the romantic spirit of Wong Kar-wai, über-cool soundtrack and all.

• Sloan Freer, Radio Times

  Occasionally the material gets too self-indulgently arty but the way it lingers over the small moments of human interaction more than compensates.

• Alex Zane, Sun Online

  It's rare to find a film that changes the way you see the world and puts a smile on your face. At least for a while.

• Derek Malcolm, This is London

  You could call the film either fresh and charming or hopelessly second-hand. There is, indeed, something there. But not much.

• Anthony Quinn, Independent

  Rumpled, vague and possibly a bit whiffy.

• Allan Hunter, Daily Express

  It may be slight and more than a little fuzzy but there is a certain soulful charm to Unmade Beds that keeps you engaged.

• Matthew Turner, ViewLondon

  Well made, frequently charming indie drama but it's not as emotionally satisfying as it should be.

Read all 22 critic reviews