‘Submarine’ raises spirits

A fresh and inventive cinematic voice, writer-director Richard Ayoade has taken a subject that’s been beaten half to death and brought it miraculously to life in his smart and funny debut feature, “Submarine.”

Based on a novel by Joe Dunthorne, “Submarine” is not exactly the first film willing to explore the coming of age of a teen boy. But by grafting delightful cinematic wit and style and a fondness for the energy of the French New Wave onto the tale of a 15-year-old taking on life in a Welsh town, Ayoade makes us feel like it’s never been told before.

Which is exactly how it feels to young Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts). Oliver, as he is quick to tell us himself in the film’s rapid-fire, wall-to-wall voice-over, is an earnest, self-aware young person with a quirky sensibility, a fondness for reading the dictionary and a habit of thinking about situations more than he should.

Simultaneous with his inevitable attempt to hook up with the girl of his dreams, Oliver is trying to save his parents’ floundering marriage – parallel tasks that end up evoking all the bittersweet colors of life.

He focuses on classmate Jordana (Yasmin Paige) as his soul mate. A sarcastic, chain-smoking femme fatale, Jordana is also a bit of a pyromaniac who hates anything romantic – clearly, a match made in heaven.

Oliver’s parents present more of a challenge. Impeccably played by Sally Hawkins and Noah Taylor, Jill and Lloyd Tate are too willfully neurotic for words, with Lloyd, an expert in obscure corners of marine biology, fighting depression as well as a marriage heading for the rocks.

The biggest boulder in sight is self-help guru/life coach Graham T. Purvis (Paddy Considine at his best), an old beau of Jill’s who has moved in next door.

“Submarine” is not only filled with cinematic references – including a joke about Carl Theodor Dreyer’s silent “Passion of Joan of Arc” (really) – it is made with so much intrinsically cinematic verve that the biggest compliment you can pay it is to say that it must be experienced to be fully appreciated.

Though this is British filmmaker Ayoade’s first feature, he has a background in both television comedy and music videos. His visual sense, aided by cinematographer Erik Wilson, is superb; his use of music (including songs by Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys) is engaging; and his work with his fine actors is excellent across the board.

Debut films come and debut films go, but “Submarine” is one to remember.