A Part of You (Swedish: En Del Av Dig) follows the story of two sisters, Agnes and Julia. Julia, the older of the two, has it all: she’s cool, popular, and dating the guy everyone has their eye on, Noel. Agnes looks up to her older sister, but is also jealous of her, wishing she could step into her shoes. When tragedy strikes, Agnes’ life suddenly changes, but what is the price for fulfilling her desires? A story about life, death, and what it means to be a teenager, En Del Av Dig is sure to tug at your heartstrings.
The film is helmed by podcaster and novelist Sigge Eklund. En Del Av Dig is his first foray into directing, but is the product of a lifelong dream. In a recent interview with Vogue Scandinavia, Eklund stated that he was “put on this planet to make movies” and approached every element of filmmaking with curiosity and excitement. Speaking about his desire to represent the teenage experience truthfully, Eklund shared, “being 17 is not a safe situation. It’s almost life or death, remember?”
The film stars internationally-acclaimed pop singer Zara Larsson in her debut acting role. Starring alongside her are Edvin Ryding (of Young Royals fame) and breakout talent Felicia Maxime. En Del Av Dig is Ryding and Maxime’s third project together, and their professional partnership has turned into a blossoming relationship: the two have been dating for the past few months. Rounding out the cast are Ida Engvoll, Mustafa Al-Mashhadani, Alva Bratt, Emil Hedayat, Olivia Essén, and Nikki Hanseblad. A Part of You (En Del Av Dig) was released internationally on Netflix on Friday 31st May, 2024.
Film Review for A Part of You
“A Part of You” is a solidly sentimental teen melodrama about a girl who dons her late sibling’s clothes, takes up with her friends and boyfriend and even engages in the behavior that led to her sister’s death.
Swedish filmmaker Sigge Eklund’s feature directing debut visits all the waypoints of teen grief, and Michaela Hamilton’s script rarely fails to miss a cliche on that journey.
Yes, there’s a song that older sis Julia used to love to karaoke after knocking back a few drinks. Yes, little sis Agnes is sure to take her turn at trying to channel Avicii at pretty much the exact moment you expect her to. But that predictability only occasionally lapses into the maudlin in this mixed-bag of a weeper.
Julia (Zara Larsson) is baby sis Agnes’ (Felicia Maxime Truedsson) idol and her biggest cheerleader, urging her to go for it and audition for the school play.
Julia is a vivacious and popular life force, and Agnes isn’t the only one who seems to be in her shadow whenever Julia is present. Julia’s boyfriend, Noel (Edvin Ryding) shrinks and retreats. And Julia’s bestie Esther (Alva Bratt) defers to her more outgoing — sometimes manic — friend at school lunch gatherings, posse parties and the like.
Single mom Carina (Ida Ingvall) makes Agnes a birthday cake and lets Julia bring Noel over for the festivities, which Julia takes over with an argument about whether she’s going out tonight.
“You live in my house,” Mom declares. “And you should be thankful,” the wild child spits back (in Swedish, or dubbed into English).
That’s how Agnes is dragged to a rowdy party with tipsy older teens. Julia promised she wouldn’t be drinking, but Julia does what she wants, when she wants and with whom she wants. So give her the karaoke mike, and get out of my spotlight!
That’s the night of the accident, the one that takes Julia’s life. Mom runs off to grieve with her own mother. Noel feels guilty, and wants to “talk about it” with Agnes. But the surviving sister, newly cast as the lead in the play, is in shock, numbed and tuned-out.
She’s anxious to get back to school. She’s scrolled through Julia’s phone, and starts wearing her clothes, hanging with her friends, flashing her fake-ID and when she finally agrees to “talk” with Noel, it isn’t just talking that she has in mind.
Maxime, who went by Truedsson when she was in last year’s disaster thriller “The Abyss,” is very good at conveying the inadequate responses to grief many a teen experiences when facing loss at that age. We buy the shock and the calculation that makes her “become” a version of her sister as a coping mechanism.
Singer/actress Larsson is perfectly cast as the vivacious and mercurial Julia, whom no one says “No” to, even when her life is at stake.
The story and plot points of grief on display here offers few surprises. Aiming your film at a teen target audience lowers expectations with regards to showing us something new.
But “A Part of You” is meant to be a movie you feel more than you follow, anxiously awaiting the next twist. And one does feel something, here and there and in the finale. If you’re young enough, that will suffice.
A Part of You (2024)
Directed by: Sigge Eklund
Starring: Felicia Maxime, Edvin Ryding, Zara Larsson, Ida Engvoll, Alva Bratt, Nikki Hanseblad, Olivia Essén, Maxwell Cunningham, Emil Hedayat, Mustafa Al-Mashhadani, Leo Algert, Julian Carwell
Screenplay by: Michaela Hamilton
Cinematography by: Josephine Owe
Film Editing by: Sarah Patient Nicastro
Costume Design by: Anna Sheild
Art Direction by: Manuela Vintilescu
Music by: Wilhelm Börjesson, Oskar Rindborg
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Netflix
Release Date: May 31, 2024
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