By John Corrado

The 2024 Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 5th to 15th, more information on tickets and showtimes can be found right here.

Inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s novella The Sorrows of Young Werther which caused quite the stir in the late-1700s, Toronto filmmaker José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço’s easily enjoyable feature debut Young Werther is a modern reimagining of an old classic (in a similar vein to Clueless being a Jane Austen adaptation).

In this version, Werther (Douglas Booth) is a posh young man who travels to Toronto from Montreal with his best friend Paul (Jaouhar Ben Ayed), to settle a family estate. He ventures out into the city, where he has a “meet cute” at the gelato shop with the dashing Charlotte (Allison Pill) and her sister Sissy (Iris Apatow). It’s Charlotte’s birthday, he gets invited to her party, and the two share a moment.

The catch is that she is already engaged to Albert (Patrick J. Adams), a too-perfect lawyer. The romantic comedy beats are a tad predictable, and there is some business involving a court case subplot that gets a bit convoluted. The film also peters out slightly towards the end of its one hundred minutes. But Young Werther serves as a fun and enjoyable trifle, boosted by the delightful chemistry of its two leads.

The film works because of Booth’s irresistibly charming portrayal; his Werther is arrogant and full of himself, but in an endearing, boyish way. Pill gets to shine as the object of his affections, while still crafting Charlotte into her own person with wants and desires. The romantic lensing of Toronto by cinematographer Nick Haight gives everything a colourful, heightened glow, turning the city into a veritable romantic playground of instantly recognizable locations. It’s a fun watch.

Film Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)

Public Screenings: Monday, September 9th, 9:00 PM at TIFF Lightbox; Tuesday, September 10th, 6:15 PM at Scotiabank Theatre