Driven by the bold visual flare you’d expect from a protégé of Luca Guadagnino, Giovanni Tortorici — who served as his assistant director on the HBO series We Are Who We Are — makes a striking directorial debut with Diciannove (literally Nineteen in Italian). Bolstered by an engrossing central performance by Manfredi Marini in his first acting role, the film offers an unconventional not-quite-coming-of-age portrait of Leonardo, a 19-year-old bisexual with wavering academic pursuits, a body that refuses to process alcohol, and a libido with unusual triggers.

With an array of camera tricks that only a European director could pull off successfully, Tortorici captures the sensation of being an “in-between” age in the 21st century with a certain raw honesty. As Leonardo drifts between Italy and the UK, Tortorici allows his character to experience the messiness that comes with the path of self-discovery. With no clean resolutions or transformative lessons for Leonardo, Diciannove instead becomes a showcase for the raw talents of its director and star — who exhibit the exciting rawness of newcomers and the audacious confidence of people who have found their calling.