Coming of Age: An On-Screen Guide to Growing Up

Written by Katerina Plescia

(From left) Tracy Letts, Saoirse Ronan, and Laurie Metcalf in Ladybird (2017) Photo Credit: IAC Films and Scott Rudin Productions

The mere thought of aging has the ability to send any individual into a downward spiral of overthinking and anxiety. As the years tick by, a person’s experiences will morph and shape their personality and their viewpoint on the surrounding world. Young adolescents and teens seek comfort in the early years of becoming an adult, figuring out where they may fit into society and how society may take to them. The classic coming of age film has provided a security blanket to a handful of generations, allowing impressionable viewers to connect with the fictional characters and lose themselves in a story paralleling aspects of their own life. 

When I was in middle school, the majority of my Friday nights were spent at home sitting in the living room with my dad and our two dogs. At the end of every grueling school week, I had Friday nights to look forward to, a living room picnic dinner and a “new” 80’s movie. My dad, being a film enthusiast, introduced me to the paradigmatic films of the decade, from Footloose, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, to Back to the Future, Weird Science, and The Breakfast Club. Being on the cusp of teenhood, I soaked up every ounce of these films, setting my expectations for aging around a life written by John Hughes. 

Now let’s take a time jump into a new decade, one engulfed in fast-paced technology, national terrorism, and a global pandemic. As the world that teens live in is vastly changed from that of their parents, their experiences in it differ wildly as well. Rather than shy away from these modern situations, coming of age films continue to evolve and provide comfort to a new generation.

This cinematic shift began to take place towards the late 2010’s, with the release of multiple indie films. The most popular, Greta Gerwig’s honest portrayal of a young girl’s trials and tribulations of becoming her own person, was Ladybird (2017). Saoirse Ronan delivers an authentic performance as Christine “Ladybird” MacPherson, concentrating on the hardships teens experience in their senior year of high school. While Ladybird falls in love a few times, Gerwig chooses to focus on the young woman’s heartache, high expectations for life, and tense relationship with her parents. 

Streaming services quickly jumped on the coming of age bandwagon, producing countless teen rom-coms, dramas, and comedies, all attempting to strike a chord the way Gerwig had done. In the midst of endless titles, a small handful proved to resonate with their adolescent viewers. The most popular films determined that audiences preferred candid coming of age stories, seamlessly disregarding those with the overused plot line of boy meets girl.

Jenna Ortega (left) and Maddie Ziegler (right) in The Fallout (2021) Photo Credit: New Line Cinema

Following its premiere at South by Southwest and early 2022 release date on HBO Max, The Fallout (2021) sent chills up the audience’s spine and took critics’ breath away. Writer and director, Megan Park, sought out a similar outcome as Gerwig, by relaying a truthful narrative that today’s generation can relate to. Park introduces viewers to Vada (Jenna Ortega), a high schooler swimming in a sea littered with cliques, popularity, and social media. Vada’s world crashes around her as she finds herself huddled in a bathroom stall with popular girl, Mia (Maddie Ziegler), during a school shooting. In the year of the film’s release, there were 34 school shootings across the United States as tracked by Education Week. Ortega delivers an outstanding and genuine portrayal of post-traumatic stress while continuing to deal with the struggles of teenhood in the 21st century. National terrorism and school shootings have plagued the country heavily for the past decade, Parker’s film discloses students’ raw reactions and coping mechanisms in these brutal times.

(From left) Teala Dunn, Rowan Blanchard, and Tyler Alvarez in Crush (2022) Photo Credit: Animal Pictures

The Hulu original, Crush (2022), made its way onto the streaming service in late April of 2022. In her directorial debut, Sammi Cohen, alongside writers Kirsten King and Casey Rackham, put a twist on the classic coming-of-age film. Odd-ball artist, Paige Evans (Rowan Blanchard), composes a master plan to clear her name as the anonymous school graffiti artist and get her crush, Gabriela Campos (Isabella Ferreira), to notice her by joining the varsity track team. Cohen’s story demonstrates how life never follows a single path, especially as a teenager. Paige battles with her own self-image as an artist while realizing she may be falling for Gabriela’s sister, AJ (Auli’i Cravalho). Crush’s vibrant color scheme and witty writing grasps the attention of young audiences and broadens the genre of teenage love stories amongst the LGBTQ+ community. 

Although the classic coming of age films will always hold a special place in my heart, I believe that writers and directors should continue to blend their stories into the times. While films offer an escape from reality, impressionable viewers seek comfort from their favorite pictures, hoping that maybe it means they are a little less alone in this unpredictable world. As teens continue to subconsciously utilize these films as a template to outline their unforeseeable future, the human desire to belong will fuel coming of age narratives for generations to come.

Katerina is a senior at Pace University in Pleasantville, NY. After graduation, she aspires to work as an entertainment journalist, centering her writing around music, film, and the arts. She grew up in Bethel, NY, and is a dog mom to a Pitbull rescue, Maddie. Find more of her work on her website or Instagram.

Celebrating Mother Figures in Film & TV

Written by Amanda Lederle

Our mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures can be our guides, our best friends, or our first frenemies. Whichever relationship you may have, you can honor the mother figures in your life by watching the mother figures in these films and TV shows. Click the images for trailers.

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Fresh Off The Boat

This comedic family story depicts the life of a Taiwanese-American family in the 90s. It was inspired by the life of now-famous chef Eddie Huang. It has been renewed for a sixth season and is the first Asian-American family show on a primetime network since 1994. Yay, Asian representation on the small screen!

Though the main voice comes from the narrator and eldest son, Eddie, the star of the Huang family is arguably Jessica, the mom. Played by Constance Wu, Jessica represents the strong female foundation that holds this family together. Her sassy, quick snaps are hidden behind a beautiful smile—you definitely don’t want to mess with her. She is truly a bad-mutha.

But like most strong Asian females who can run a household, there is always one other strong Asian female who has the final word: Grandma. Mother-in-laws are always protective of their sons and are not afraid to show it. In later seasons, they eventually restore their relationship, because what else can years of criticism really represent in uncommunicative Asian relationships but respect?

One Day At A Time

You may recognize the title, as the current version of the show is a revival. This series was originally created by sitcom legend Norman Lear, known for popular 70s shows like All in the Family and Sanford and Sons.

Matriarch Penelope “Lope” Alvarez is a veteran, nurse, and single mom of two. Her mother, Lydia, played by the vibrant Rita Moreno (famous for her performance as Anita in the 1961 movie West Side Story) lives with the Alvarez family in a little apartment in LA. Like most good family sitcoms, their landlord frequents their apartment and behaves like an adopted uncle. Everyone wants to be a part of this loving family.

Lope works hard to ensure her Cuban-American family is safe, proud of their heritage, and provided for. She shows resilience and is not afraid to speak up when she sees injustice. She serves as a strong female figure for her daughter, Elena.

In the episode titled “Anxiety,” Lope experiences panic attacks: the scene turns from color to black and white, and she suffers from heavy breathing and sweating. Later on, Elena also experiences anxiety. Lope reveals to her daughter that she has it too and that she goes to therapy to manage her post-traumatic stress.

The Alvarez family does not hesitate to discuss matters that pertain to mental health and addictions, immigration (under the current presidency), racism, and LGBTQ+ issues. Whether it is a protest, discussion about anxiety or respecting pronouns, Lope stands by Elena.

Unfortunately, this three season series was canceled, leaving fans in an uproar.

The Guilt Trip (Fletcher, 2012)

I am a sucker for Seth Rogen films. It’s not only because he is Canadian and has an adorable chuckle—his humor and choice of stories are refreshing and relatable. In this film, mom Barbra Streisand (gasp!) follows her son, played by Rogen, on a trip to showcase his invented product on a home shopping channel. This movie is a great example of a quintessential relationship between a Jewish mom and her son, full of overbearing and unwavering love, support, and courage.

Black-ish

This comedy surrounds an upper-middle-class African-American family and is a show that does not shy away from social, political, and cultural contemporary issues in America, including what it means to be black.

This household is run by doctor and mom of five, Rainbow “Bow” Johnson, played by Tracee Ellis Ross. In the episode titled “Mother Nature,” Bow experiences postpartum depression. Grandmother Ruby, played by the incomparable Jenifer Lewis, is another strong female figure in the Johnson household. She steps in to reconcile her relationship with Bow, in order to best support her daughter-in-law. The Johnson children also rally together to support Bow, and she explains the normalcy and stigmas of mental health in life.

Black-ish has an Emmy, is Golden Globe-nominated, and has two spinoffs, Grown-ish, and its soon-to-be-released prequel, Mixed-ish. Black-ish is in its fifth season.

Mom

Reconciling an old mother-daughter relationship is the main storyline in this sixth season primetime sitcom. This comedy is about Christy, a young mom (played by the hilarious Anna Faris), who is recovering from alcohol addiction and goes to AA alongside her mom (the amazing Allison Janney).

This show is a great example of mothers in recovery struggling to mend broken relationships while also figuring out their own lives. Another hit from sitcom king Chuck Lorre, this show brings viewers inside the world of AA meetings, highlighting the fellowship of the sponsor/sponsee relationships and life in the program. Representing addiction on a primetime comedy series is a impressive step forward in discussing mental health in the media.

Workin’ Moms

In this Emmy-nominated Canadian comedy series, writer, creator, and star of the show, Catherine Reitman (recognize that last name?) showcases the strength of new moms. She is the daughter of Ivan Reitman, director of classic films like Ghostbusters (1984) and Kindergarten Cop (1990).

In the cold opening, we get a glimpse of the show’s bold and innovative style with the sight of female nipples! Finally! Why male nipples are readily shown on television while women hide theirs is unknown to me.

This story follows the unlikely friendship between four women as they each struggle within their early stages of motherhood: juggling work, family, and their mental health. This refreshing Canadian mom show is just what we’ve needed to see.

Jane the Virgin

Our protagonist, Jane, is your average Venezuelan-Mexican girl who lives with her young mother and abuela. She has a Type A personality, a loving boyfriend, and she’s a virgin. Life is hopeful and bright until—she finds out she is pregnant!? How does this happen? you may ask. By way of accidental artificial insemination: she was impregnated by her boss Rafael's sperm. What will she tell her detective boyfriend, Michael? What does her future hold? And is she still a virgin?

Jane later does become a mom and is guided by her mother, Xiomara, a sexually-charged, laid-back dancer who had Jane at a very young age. Of course, this means that Jane’s abuela, Alba, has experience with young single moms. Alba becomes the executive voice for the younger generation. Her daughter and granddaughter go to her for advice about love, work, and following one’s heart.

This quick-humored, narrated telenovela combines drama, comedy, and romance. When I first watched the show, I honestly didn’t think I would like it (it can be a bit cheesy), but eventually fell in love with its humor and the honesty of the characters.

Gina Rodriguez is gorgeous and also an amazing actress; she won a Golden Globe for her role as Jane. See her in her newest Netflix’s film, Someone Great (Robinson, 2019). You can see my take on the film in my post, 13 Films & TV Shows To Watch.

Snatched (Levine, 2017)

This movie was so fun to watch, but you probably don’t want to watch it if you are going on a trip with your mom in the near future.

This film is like all mother-daughter renewal storylines, except that what binds these two them together is their kidnapping. It is a hilarious and fresh new view on how women support each other. The film has a full cast of comedy stars: Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn, Randall Park, Ike Barinholtz, Christopher Meloni, Joan Cusack, and Wanda Sykes.

Crazy Rich Asians (Chu, 2018)

Finally, a film I can watch with my whole family and see Asians reflected on the screen. They are just like us—except for the gargantuan amount of money.

I didn’t expect to react this way, but when Constance Wu first appears onscreen, I had to hold back tears. As the first studio movie in 25 years to have a full Asian cast, I don’t have to tell you how vital this film was as a box office smash in 2018. No matter what your cultural background, anyone can relate to this film full of family traditions, laughs, and a whole lot of love.

Santa Clarita Diet

Have you ever had food poisoning? Well, I am sure you haven’t had it as bad as the characters in this series. Their normal suburban family life takes a turn when Sheila, played by Drew Barrymore, starts throwing up a vile amount. Eventually, they realize she is undead.

This family show is weird yet has a lot of heart. This horror comedy also stars Timothy Olyphant and is in its third season on Netflix.

Amanda is a film enthusiast that has dedicated their life to mental health awareness, CreateBeing.com. Amanda has a background in Film Studies and lives with their partner and their chinchilla, Chewbacca in Toronto, Canada.

School's Out

Written by Amanda Lederle

School’s out and so are our secrets. We can’t hold back who we are, who we want to be, or who we love. It’s time to be honest and to express ourselves. Structured education can wait another two months, but life lessons are always available to learn.

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Drag Kids

We’ve seen drag films before, but we’ve never seen them from the perspective of preteens. This progressive documentary film shines the spotlight on four adolescents: Stephan, Jason, Bracken, and Nemis. Each of them is traveling on an individual journey to self-expression when their paths eventually intersect, and they all meet for the first time at Montreal’s Pride Festival.

These drag minis go about their daily lives in solitude, with no other kids at school or in their communities to connect with, because no one else around is quite like them. But when they arrive at the Montreal Pride Festival, they find themselves surrounded by like-minded people outside of their hometowns. This pride event brings them together for a group performance, ultimately giving them the hope of finding others who understand their personal experiences.

This film shows how lonely and isolating it can be for someone who is seen as an outsider. But when we courageously continue to be ourselves and get out of our schoolyards, it is possible to find others who we can relate to.

Drag Kids was written and directed by Megan Wennberg and had its world premiere at this year’s Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival.

Derry Girls

The juxtaposition between a restrained community and the ultra-attitude from four teenage girls exemplifies this comedy, set in the 90s in Northern Ireland. Four teenage girls – Erin, Orla, Claire, and Michelle – all go to a Catholic girls' high school. Then there’s Michelle’s male heterosexual cousin, James, who also attends the same school. You can imagine how difficult it is for James to find a private bathroom on his first day.

These foul-mouthed, Catholic, kilt-wearing teens are on the hunt to find their independence and identity together, as Claire says, “…trying to be an individual on your own is just too embarrassing.” Even living in a town surrounded by armored police checkpoints does not phase these outspoken teenage girls.

This very comedic British show is created and written by Lisa McGee. Derry Girls won awards for Best Comedy and Best Writer in a Comedy or Soap at the Irish Film & Television Awards. To date, it is noted as the most-watched series in Northern Ireland and was picked up by Netflix due to its popularity.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before

Everything is peachy when your secret letters to your crushes are kept in a box, hidden away in your closet where no one can find them – until they get sent out. Half-Korean/half-Caucasian teen Lara Jean Covey is a high school junior who has to courageously face her crushes (the titular boys she has loved before) and allow herself to release fears and insecurities that hold her back from her self-expression. It’s a lesson we can all learn at any age.

This film also shows us how women and family can come together to support one another. And for me, as always, it is refreshing to see an Asian female protagonist represented on screen.

This film was directed by Susan Johnson, based on the original novel written by Jenny Han. It stars Vietnamese-born actress Lana Condor, made famous as Jubilee in X-Men: Apocalypse (Singer, 2016). This Netflix film was the hot teen romance film of 2018.

The Get Down

Graffiti-filled red brick walls line the streets while siren calls fill the air. There is anxious energy flowing through a heart full of dreams and legs ready to run away at any moment. The train from the Bronx leads to Manhattan, sliding through each episode; an escape to stardom is right at the fingertips.

This story is set in the late 70s, at a time when the popularity of disco is transferring to hip-hop. The tone of the series combines that of an immigrant tale such as in West Side Story (Robbins and Wise, 1961) with the hip-hop grind akin to Straight Outta Compton (Gray, 2015).

Narrated by Nas, this two-part series on Netflix is visually stunning and full of poetry. Creator Baz Lurhuman’s auteur style is evident throughout. Justice Smith plays Ezekiel, aka “Books,” who stuns the small screen with his talent. You may recognize him from Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (Bayona, 2018) and most recently in Pokémon Detective Pikachu (Letterman, 2019).

The struggle on the street is not without internal angst also, as seen in Jaden Smith’s character, Dizzie, who falls in love with another male street artist. Summer is out for these students, but the school of life is always in session.

Dear White People

Many teenagers might think that life after high school means freedom from any identity or social issues, but that is sadly not the case. In this thought-provoking series, African-American female protagonist Samantha White hosts her own radio show, where she focuses on the racial tensions on her college campus. She addresses her white audience, highlighting the difficulties of the African-American experience for them.

The show follows a group of African-American students who, in addition to their studies, have to deal with the trials of white vs. black tensions, representation on campus, defining one’s “blackness” by the shade of their skin, and issues with campus police and racial profiling.

This Netflix show was first released as a feature film in 2014 by the same director, Justin Simien. Some of the original cast from the film are also featured in the series version. And the show has now been confirmed for a third season!

Any film or show about a female-POC-protagonist film buff has my attention. If that is the same for you, stay tuned for my next blog, when I introduce you to Nola Darling.

Want to know which other films and TV shows I’ve been watching?

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Amanda is a film enthusiast that has dedicated their life to mental health awareness, CreateBeing.com. Amanda has a background in Film Studies and lives with their partner and their chinchilla, Chewbacca in Toronto, Canada. They are also a visual artist, you can find more on Instagram @amandalederle and @createbeing.

Celebrating Father Figures in Film & TV

Written by Amanda Lederle

The title of father can be a crown to wear with pride, yet it can weigh heavy on a person’s head. The following examples of father figures are all only humans, trying to do the best they can with what they know and have been taught. We are introduced to grown men who find new ways to take care of their families, make amends, learn what it means to be a leader, and seek to find their personal identities.

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Beginners

This film is about Oliver (played by Ewan McGreggor) reflecting on his life after his father’s death, while also trying to define the future of a new relationship. Oliver’s constant need for definition stems from his desire to find purpose and love. 

After years of marriage to Oliver’s mother, Hal (Christopher Plummer) is in his 70s when he comes out as gay to his son. We see how Oliver’s relationship with his father changes afterward, up until Hal’s eventual death. This film is a wonderful example of how fathers may not always be who we think they are, and how it’s never too late to reveal one’s truth. 

Christopher Plummer received an Academy Award for this role as Best Supporting Actor in 2011. 

Morris From America

In the first minute of the film, Morris (Markees Christmas, in his first feature film) and his father Curtis (Craig Robinson) analyze what they think is good hip-hop music.

Right off the top, you see the strong bond between these two. Father and son then go out for ice cream, and we realize that these two African-American males in their matching New York Yankee hats are in Germany, very far from their American norms.

While Morris struggles to fit into the culture and the local adolescent community, he is also in search of his rapping identity. Meanwhile, Curtis finds himself struggling as well. This father figure is trying to deal with his grief after the passing of his wife, at the same time as he is learning to be a single father and trying to find his own way in German society. Seeing Robinson as a father is a refreshing change from the carefree, troublemaking characters he typically plays. Morris in America is a great story about finding your authentic voice and identity in a foreign place, no matter what age you are.

This film won two prizes at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival: the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, and for Craig Robinson, the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Individual Performance.

Whale Rider

Traditions are important to maintaining culture. But how long should we continue to uphold a tradition if it no longer serves its purpose?

This is a story about a Maori tradition of training the first-born grandson of the chiefs to be the next leaders of a tribe. When the first-born grandson in a local Maori tribe dies at birth, his twin sister Pai seems to have the potential to be the future chief but is brushed off as a possible candidate.

However, as a strong female character, Pai does everything in her power to show her grandfather that she is capable of leading their tribe. After several challenges and with the support of other male tribe members, she eventually proves herself worthy of the position. A beautiful tale about how traditional male roles can be upheld by any gender, and that a community needs to support its members for the group to succeed.  

Pai is played by thirteen-year-old Keisha Castle-Hughes, who in 2003 became the youngest nominee for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

The Royal Tenenbaums

What’s a list about fathers without Royal Tenenbaum? The father of three struggles to find his way back into his quirky family after years of questionable parenting. This story is about him making amends with his children and, as a result, how they come to terms with themselves. 

Anderson’s films famously portray the experience of coming-of-age and people’s relationships with their fathers, and this film about adult children is no different. No matter how old we become, we still look for approval from our loved ones, as a father or as children.

Amanda is a film enthusiast that has dedicated their life to mental health awareness, CreateBeing.com. Amanda has a background in Film Studies and lives with their partner and their chinchilla, Chewbacca in Toronto, Canada. They are also a visual artist, you can find more on Instagram @amandalederle and @createbeing.