A Trip

A TRIP is the astonishingly assured debut of a 26-year-old director who has already written three novels. Modest but emotionally effective, the film accompanies three aimless buddies a few years out of high school. Tooling around the lush Slovenian countryside like they used to, they're just looking to reconnect and have a good time. Yet each of them has a secret. Gregor is a soldier on temporary leave from Afghanistan whose fear of death can't be entirely disguised by his posturing. Ziva is a beauty desperate to prove she's as tough as any guy. Andrej is their chubby gay b.f., whose antics and foul mouth mask his unhappiness. The kids drink lots of beer, have pissing contests, swim, and go camping. But as their trip proceeds, grownup tensions start bubbling up. When they finally let their emotions out, each learns something about the others that will change their friendship. (In Slovenian with subtitles) – B.B.