At this year’s Sarajevo Film Festival, writer-director Urša Menart’s sophomore feature, ‘Everything That’s Wrong With You,’ premiered in competition, showcasing a tender and nuanced exploration of female friendship in the digital age. Anchored by the sweet-and-sour chemistry of stars Klara Kuk and Anuša Kodelja, this Slovenian film delves into the complexities of navigating relationships from the comfort of our screens to the unpredictability of real-life interactions.

The story follows Maruša, a Daria-esque brunette played by Anuša Kodelja, who finds solace in the bubbly-bleak content produced by wannabe influencer Alja, a cute-core blonde portrayed by Klara Kuk. After Maruša’s mother passes away, she begins to reconnect with Alja through a series of online conversations, eventually deciding to take a spontaneous bus trip to Alja’s German beach town home. As the two women spend more time together, their digital friendship blossoms into a more precarious IRL relationship.

Menart’s script does a fine job of building out these jagged women with a sharp eye for the growing pains of flesh-and-bones relationships born from the seed of virtual connection. The film’s backdrop of a handsomely melancholic coastal setting, captured in desaturated pearl-blue tones by cinematographer Roy Van Egmond, adds to the melancholic tone of the narrative. The mousier Alja is enlivened by Maruša’s no-fucks-given approach to life, finding in her new (and perhaps first ever) bestie the kind of relationship she thought only happened in movies.

The chemistry between Kuk and Kodelja is undeniable, making credible the rapport between Maruša’s grungy cynic and Alja’s snuggie-wearing neurotic. As their relationship deepens, the camera captures the subtleties of their interactions, from the way they share earbuds to the way they break into the luxe abode of the married man who broke Maruša’s heart. However, as time together reveals the depths of each character’s dysfunctions, their camaraderie veers into codependence.

Alja, who works at an elder care facility, is a bit too eager to host the freeloading Maruša. Her health problems and submissive, self-effacing nature have left her friendless beyond the guys she meets through dating apps, putting Maruša in a situation where she’s playing caretaker to a new loved one while still grieving the last person she tended. And as Maruša pushes back her departure again and again, Alja’s behavior becomes more erratic – dark and deeply sad revelations that Menart tempers with a delicately irreverent sense of humor.

The film’s climax unfolds as expected, with a resolution that borders on situational comedy. Despite this, Menart’s script remains true to the complexities of female friendship, acknowledging the difficulties and vulnerabilities that come with forming and maintaining relationships in the digital age. With its winsome performers and modest budget, ‘Everything That’s Wrong With You’ is a luminous two-hander that is sure to captivate audiences with its nuanced exploration of the human condition.

Production details include a Slovenian-German-Serbian co-production, with Katja Lenarčič and Danijel Hočevar serving as producers. The film’s crew includes director and screenwriter Urša Menart, cinematographer Roy van Egmond, editor Lukas Miheljak, and music composers Alenja Pivko Kneževič and Simon Penšek. The cast features Anuša Kodelja, Klara Kuk, Mojca Fatur, and Marjuta Slamic, all delivering nuanced performances that bring the complex characters to life.

Overall, ‘Everything That’s Wrong With You’ is a thought-provoking and visually stunning film that offers a unique perspective on the complexities of female friendship in the digital age. With its talented cast, modest budget, and nuanced exploration of the human condition, this Slovenian film is sure to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impression.