1234

The vague term ‘indie rock’ has shifted a lot in meaning over three decades, but some associations have stuck, namely loud guitars, black-framed glasses and skinny teens in skinny jeans. An unabashed celebration of indie-ness in its most recognisable form, ‘1234’ is unlikely to make many converts but will appeal to anyone who’s ever bought the same single on three different formats just to get all the B-sides.

Debut writer-director Giles Borg knows his territory: the film is a simple tale of homemade rock ’n’ roll romance and takes place in a series of rehearsal studios, pub back rooms and arts labs where his fey, shuffling cast of awkward twentysomethings meet, make music, make eyes and sort of fall in love to a soundtrack of late ’90s DIY seven-inches. It’s heartfelt, nicely written, competently directed and entertaining, though the the hipper-than-thou namedropping is a bit tiresome, and the underwhelming climax is frustrating in the extreme.