Sivan Levy, right, in S#x Acts (Ziv Mamon)

Some might argue that high school is the worst period in life—the raging hormones, the cliques, and the attempts to fit in and ascend the social ladder. S#x Acts captures that difficult period perfectly by following a 16-year-old girl who uses sex to gain acceptance. Heartbreaking and affecting, the film is never melodramatic but often filled with tension and suspense.

Inspired by real events, Gili (Sivan Levy), a new transplant to her school, instantly takes a liking to two of the popular boys, Omri (Eviatar Mor) and Tomer (Roy Nik), and gets physically involved with both. Goaded by Omri and her desire for him, her sexual encounters escalate, with danger always lurking around the corner.

The ensemble is perfectly cast. Alluring and vulnerable, Sivan Levy’s performance is as fearless as her character, Gili, is reckless. Eviatar Mor is physically appealing, charming and equal parts sleazy. Niv Zilberberg, who plays a boy interested in Gili, is a large, doughy, teddy bear of a teenager both imposing and cherubic. All give strong, naturalistic performances in potentially very awkward sexual situations. No improvisation in the film occurs, which speaks to the strength of the Rona Segal’s screenplay and the direction of first-time feature director Jonathan Gurfinkel.

He shoots in an observational way, with the handheld camera providing enough movement to make the audience feel uneasy but never overly guided. There’s no film score to cue the audience to feel an emotion at a key moment. Strangely, we never see the actual school they’re in, and we rarely see parents. Instead, scenes unfold in the privacy of the kid’s rooms, where they hang out, or at parties.

It’s an intentionally minimal film that heightens a feeling of claustrophobia—the world we see is only that of Gili, these wealthy boys, and their tough, social environment. It’s not a completely black-and-white portayal, however. While Omri is certainly manipulative and Gili is susceptible, she is never completely coerced into her compromising situations and she makes some questionable decisions. Everyone seems guided by two instincts, either by their hormones or the desire to be popular. It’s both a testament to the strength of the film and frightening that these social and sexual situations feel so familiar and universal.