Analyzing the Impact of Chewing Gum on Teen Cinema

The Teen Series "Chewing Gum": A Revival or Just a Collection of Clichés?

The Russian series "Chewing Gum" (2024), which premiered on the Premier platform, boldly claims to redefine the landscape of adolescent cinema. The streaming service has touted this project as the launching pad for a refreshing wave of youth-oriented shows. However, viewer feedback and critical reviews have pointed to several glaring issues: from a mundane plot to a questionable approach in addressing significant themes. Let’s delve into what draws in and pushes away the audience.

Plot: Love, Stalking, and Tragedy

At the heart of the narrative is Galia Shalamova (played by Daria Balabanova), a girl from a Moscow suburban orphanage who dreams of enrolling at VGIK and becoming a screenwriter. Her life is a turbulent sea of drama: abusive relationships with her boyfriend Kirill (Anton Artemyev), the impending release of her mother (Yuliya Volkova) from prison, and an utter lack of support or genuine connection.

Galia stumbles upon a livestream of a popular blogger named Roma (Anton Rogachev), who operates online under the alias Hans Schmuze. Coming from a wealthy family, Roma embodies everything Galia longed for: freedom, ease, and a carefree existence. Enchanted by Roma, she begins to construct naïve fantasies about a blissful future together.

What begins as a romantic venture swiftly devolves into an unhealthy obsession. Galia fabricates stories about her life to impress Roma, who sees their relationship as a mere frivolous fling. A prank where he stages his own death ultimately acts as a trigger for tragedy, leading Galia—convinced of her beloved's demise—to embark on a quest to find and exact revenge on his fake murderer.

Key Themes: Surface-Level or Relevant?

The series attempts to tackle issues seemingly close to contemporary youth culture. Yet, the manner in which these topics are unveiled leaves much to be desired.

1. Love and Stalking

Galia evolves from a starry-eyed dreamer into a dangerously obsessed stalker. Her behavior often appears less as a manifestation of romantic feelings and more as a painful dependency. Concurrently, Roma's actions—marked by deceit and manipulation—highlight a typical toxic dynamic.

2. Bullying and Toxic Environments

Abuse permeates not just Galia's tumultuous relationship with Kirill, but also permeates her interactions with the world around her. The mocking she endures in the orphanage and the derision from the privileged youth coalesce to create a stifling atmosphere.

3. Parents and Children

Despite their financial affluence, Roma's family is emotionally fractured and cold. His mother is lost in her struggles, his father is absorbed in work, and a sick sister languishes in the background. Galia lacks any parental support; her mother has just been released from prison and her father is virtually non-existent.

4. The Influence of Social Media

Roma, embodying the archetype of a social media influencer, parades a fabricated existence while concealing his real troubles. His peers contribute to the facade, playing their parts in the staged death scenario. This element aimed to illustrate social media's impact on adolescents, yet the series only skims the surface of this vital topic.

Characters: An Attempt at Complexity

The creators intended to craft intricate, imperfect characters. However, the execution appears inconclusive.

• Galia elicits feelings of sympathy and compassion; yet, her obsessive actions frequently repel viewers. She comes across more as a victim of circumstance than as an autonomous individual.
• Roma is portrayed as a cliché wealthy youth: indifferent, frivolous, and shallow. His prank involving a staged death renders his character entirely unsympathetic.
• Kirill emerges as a caricature of a 90s thug, his abusive nature glaringly apparent from the outset.

Production: Clichés and Mediocrity

Directed by Alexander Tsoy, known for projects like "Difficult Teens" and "Link-Up," "Chewing Gum" doesn't quite rise to the level of his previous works, despite his experience in youth drama.

1. Music and Visual Atmosphere

Like many domestic teen series, "Chewing Gum" is laden with neon parties, montage sequences, and mediocre music. These elements often serve merely as background noise rather than enriching the narrative.

2. Dialogue and Script

Nine screenwriters contributed to the project, but their collective efforts failed to yield significant results. The dialogues feel forced, and character actions frequently lack logical coherence.

Criticism: What Disappointed Audiences?

Many viewers and critics expressed dissatisfaction with "Chewing Gum."

• Clichés Over Originality: The plot brims with tropes, from neon-lit parties to carefree rich kids without financial worries.
• Lack of Realism: The actors portraying teenagers appear significantly older than their characters, raising questions about believability.
• Absence of a Clear Narrative Arc: The series attempts to tackle too many themes, resulting in a loss of narrative focus.

Comparisons to Other Projects

Viewers frequently draw parallels between "Chewing Gum" and other series like "Euphoria" or "Sex Education." However, the dramatic depth, character development, and relevance of issues in those shows far surpass what "Chewing Gum" offers.

The End: Is It Worth Watching?

Ultimately, "Chewing Gum" stands as a stereotypical attempt at creating something contemporary and youth-focused, yet the outcome leaves much to be desired. Clichéd elements, lackluster dialogue, and superficial thematic exploration prevent this series from distinguishing itself in the genre.

For those in search of a lighthearted teenage drama with elements of seriousness, "Chewing Gum" may seem appealing. However, viewers accustomed to more profound narratives would be wise to explore alternative options.