Tag: Coming of Age
The Hate U Give Explores the Complicated Journey toward Identity for Black Youth
“Know your rights. Know your worth.” The center of The Hate U Give’s universe is Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg), a 17 year old high school girl with one foot each in a different world — the inner city,…
Read More »Alpha is the Most Visually Stunning Film of the Year (So Far) with an Equally Beautiful Story of Compassion
“He leads with his heart. Not his spear.” Alpha is a historical fiction origin tale of the domestication of the first wolf by human hands. The film follows Keda (Kodi Smit-McPhee), the son of Tau (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson),…
Read More »Eighth Grade Presents the Familiar Emotional Turmoil of Adolescence
Eighth Grade brings its viewers into the life of rising high school freshman Kayla (Elsie Fisher) as she winds down her last year in middle school before embarking on her journey into high school. Kayla, who lives with…
Read More »Blockers Satisfyingly and Entertainingly Mixes Humor, Heart, and Social Commentary
************************This review contains mild spoilers**************************** Blockers is a story following the prom night and pending graduation of high school seniors Julie (Katherine Newton), Kayla (Geraldine Viswanathan), and Sam (Gideon Adlon). As the memorable night draws closer, the three…
Read More »In Examining the Struggle of Self-Discovery, Love, Simon Offers a Ray of Hope for Young Viewers
Based on the novel for young adults Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, Love, Simon follows Creekwood High School senior Simon Spier, a young teen with an idyllic life both at home with his mother…
Read More »Lady Bird Examines the Tug and Pull of Mother-Daughter Relationships Amid Income Inequality
Lady Bird follows Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) in early 2000s Sacramento as she prepares for college amidst her senior year of high school and journey to self-discovery as a teenager transitioning to young adulthood. Through an…
Read More »Call Me By Your Name Remembers First Love and Heartbreak
Call Me By Your Name takes us to Northern Italy in 1983 as Elio (Timothée Chalamet) spends the summer with his father (Michael Stuhlbarg) and mother (Amira Casar) as his father’s research assistant Oliver (Armie Hammer) comes to…
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Boy Erased Explores the Crossroads of Love and Religious Repression
Boy Erased is a film based on the true story of Garrard Eamons (Lucas Hedges), the son of a small-town Baptist pastor Marshall (Russell Crowe), who is struggling with his burgeoning homosexuality and how it squares with the…
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