For example, when we got to the editing room with all the footage taken in Norway we assumed that we could subtitle each individual takes by referencing the script, but it quickly became clear that doing it without knowing Norwegian would be impossible.

[3] Etan Vlessing of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Huculiak is hurling a brick for Canadian newcomers with his Norwegian-language drama about impulsive teen angst that is filled with creative risk.

"[4] Indiewire called the film "A sincere expression of a generous curiosity about some of life’s bigger questions, and an attempt to find, in the act of leave-taking, some wisdom and a kind of grace.

That being said, if you're a fan of We Are the City, Huculiak's first-time feature feels like a testament to not only his strength as an up-and-coming musician, but a cinematic savant as well.

"[7] The Georgia Straight's Adrian Mack called the film "an utterly audacious feature debut" adding, "You might accuse these young filmmakers of relying a little too heavily on mood and visual poetics for Violent’s deliberately paced two hours, if it wasn’t for the uniformly impressive performances, grand scale, and genuine emotional payload achieved by the end.