Funny, I thought some of the same things Angelo mentioned. I, too, reacted negatively at first to the stark light, then I realized it favors the girl in the middle, which is what it should do, ultimately. The overexposure of other elements in the frame is akin to their being out of focus--if they aren't the subject, how does it detract from the impact of the photograph?
Also like Angelo, I feel something intimate from the girl in the middle. With the man's arms around her neck, her hair in her face, her lips slightly parted, her brow contorted with a little poignant vulnerability...these elements add up.
Being exclusively a street photographer, I envy this shot.
This is really nice and original. I got a real sense of connection with the main subject. The two people in the background and foreground are looking at something out of frame, but the main subject, the girl in the middle, is making eye contact with the viewer (ok, with the camera...)
It's a bit of a shame that the lighting was so harsh, but maybe this actually contributes to the effect: the main girl's face is the only one well exposed!