Kissing Drew (2013)
November 1, 2025
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““Kissing Drew” — The tenderness and chaos of a first wish
Released in 2013, the short film Kissing Drew has become a small gem of independent cinema for its honest and delicate look at adolescence, identity, and sexual awakening. Directed with subtlety and empathy, the film portrays a crucial moment in the life of an eighth-grade student trying to come to terms with his feelings in an environment where vulnerability is often punished.
The story follows a young boy who, after being humiliated by one of the popular kids in his class, seeks to reclaim his dignity. However, what begins as a conflict of power and shame transforms into an intimate exploration of repressed desire when the viewer discovers that the same boy who ridicules him is also silently struggling with his own attraction.
Kissing Drew doesn’t rely on grand gestures or speeches; its power lies in small silences, restrained glances, and the universal pain of wanting to be accepted. It’s a work that addresses the fear of showing oneself as one truly is, but also the beauty of self-discovery, even amidst confusion.
With minimalist staging and natural performances, the short film captures the essence of that moment between childhood and adulthood, where love, shame, and identity intertwine in an emotional whirlwind.
Kissing Drew is, ultimately, a brief but powerful story about the search for oneself in a world that doesn’t yet know how to look at it with tenderness.