Consequences (Posledice) is a powerful and unflinching Slovenian drama that dives deep into the volatility of youth, identity, and repression. Directed by Darko Štante, the film is raw and honest, confronting viewers with the turbulent inner world of a teenager caught between aggression, belonging, and self-discovery. At the center is Andrej, a troubled 18-year-old who’s sent to a juvenile detention center after a violent offense. Angry, guarded, and confused, he tries to survive in a harsh environment where dominance rules and vulnerability is punished. But when he falls under the influence of Željko, the charismatic leader of a gang inside the facility, Andrej begins to experience feelings he cannot fully understand — attraction, admiration, fear — all tangled into one.

What makes Consequences so striking is its brutal realism. The film doesn’t soften the edges or offer easy answers. It captures toxic masculinity in its rawest form — the pressure to act tough, to suppress emotion, to conform to a violent pack mentality. But at the same time, it bravely explores repressed sexuality in an environment where to be different is to be exposed. Andrej’s internal struggle becomes almost unbearable as he tries to navigate survival, acceptance, and truth in a world that punishes authenticity.

Matej Zemljič, in the role of Andrej, delivers a fearless and vulnerable performance that anchors the entire film. Every expression, every moment of silence, every suppressed outburst speaks volumes. His journey is devastating and intimate, leaving you both shaken and deeply moved. The cinematography is stark and cold, reflecting the emotional isolation of the characters, while the pacing draws you in slowly until you feel every flicker of tension and desire.

Consequences is not a film for the faint-hearted. It’s intense, uncomfortable, and painfully honest. But it’s also necessary. It challenges societal expectations and dares to tell a story that many are afraid to confront — a story about youth, identity, and the quiet tragedy of never being allowed to be yourself.