Coming-of-Age
We all eventually "come of age". Switching years like a pair of gloves, moving cities like it never mattered. It's heartbreaking and gripping but enlightening at the same time. It's the time when you have thrown away all of your toys because they are of no use and get a pair of brand new ones (even though they are still, as a matter of fact, just another toy). We all have a hero's journey behind our shoulders. A call to adventure, a trial, a metamorphosis of some kind involved. The plot twists of teenage dreams, the core of broken dreams and the refreshing arousal of new beginnings. Teen spirit allures with eternal spring, which never passes, but we indeed do. The artistic discovery of our inner wounds, the romanticized pieces of teenage coming-of-age. We thrived through the moment, we lived in the moment, and we depicted the moment.
Emma Stone in Easy A (2010) / Photo by Adam Taylor - © 2010 CTMG
Coming-of-age is a genre that can be found far beyond the bookshelves in reddish cinemas and dusty CDs. The pinnacle of a teenage story depicts the transition from childhood into adulthood. And just like with 9¾, the process ain't easy nor fearless at all. Revolving around the inner world of the main protagonist, it showcases the transformation of his outer world, leading to new beginnings and the metamorphosis of the hero as a whole.
The progression into the new life stage is a milestone of the genre, which leads the narrative into different paces, all leading to the crucial moment of "rebirth". Films often blend some romantic movie narratives and focus on the protagonist's love life. This coming-of-age topic is indeed overcrowded with plot twists and cinematographic issues. It isn't exceptional, but rather traditional for a coming-of-age movie to revolve around the first romantic experience of a hero.
One of the classy examples of romantic coming-of-age films is "The Perks of Being a Wallflower". The film is exceptionally well-known in its genre, being an ecranisation of a beloved novel written by Stephen Bucovski. It follows the coming-of-age of a character named Charlie - a 15-year-old introvert who enters high school and is nervous about his new life. The film sparks the conversation around many topics, including love, sex, drug use, rape and mental health. The main romantic plot of the movie follows the story of Charlie and his school friend Sam, who is part of the group of seniors and welcomes Charlie into their circle. From the moment they meet, Charlie is captivated by her. However, she's dating another guy, Craig, and views Charlie more as a close friend. The film is doing a great job in terms of presenting the slow-burn romantic scene, tinged with Charlie's inner conflict and emotional growth and Sam's realization that she deserves better in relationships. By the end, the romantic tension between them is resolved. Still, the focus remains on Charlie's self-discovery and emotional healing. The romance between them is tender and heartfelt, but it's just one aspect of Charlie's larger journey of coming to terms with his past and learning to be present in his own life.
Emma Watson in The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) / Photo by John Bramley © 2011 Summit Entertainment
Another classy plot within coming-of-age is the autobiographical or semi-autobiographical nature. The "Lady Bird" directed by the main pop-culture femdirector of the recent years Greta Gerwig is semi-autobiographical, reflecting Gerwig's own experiences growing up in Sacramento and attending a Catholic high school. The film focuses on Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson as she navigates her final year of high school, her relationship with her mother, and her dreams of leaving home. The film hits with its relativism, and as someone who first watched it at the age of 14 - you can tell that it hits the spot, showcasing the raw, edgy and naked nature of teenage existence. The quirky essence of the adulthood journey begins.
Saoirse Ronan and Beanie Feldstein in Lady Bird (2017)
While talking about Greta Gerwig and coming-of-age, it would be almost sinister, not to mention the classics. And yes, as you may already have guessed, I'm talking about the "Little Women". The world has seen a lot of ecranisation of this exquisite and heartwarming novel by Louisa May Alcott. The 1917 "Little Women" silent film, the 1933 classy Hollywood version and the 2019 version directed by Greta Gerwig. There are many more forms to explore, but here, we will focus on the recent Gerwig version of the original story. As the official description follows "19th century Massachusetts. While the March sisters - Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth - enter the threshold of womanhood, they go through many ups and downs in life and endeavour to make important decisions that can affect their future" (Little Women, 2019). The story is indeed unique as it follows the transformation of not one but four protagonists, all coming from the same household but dreaming and moving in different directions, facing their unique issues and obstacles to overcome. Touching upon topics of faith, war, relationships and personal identity.
Last but not least, is the usage of horror tropes to explore some of the most complicated sides of growing up. The film "Raw" (2016) uses cannibalism to explore the topic of sexuality in quite an eccentric manner. The story follows a lifelong vegetarian, Justine, as she begins her first semester in veterinary school and is forced to taste raw food for the first time. Unexpected changes started to occur as Justine rediscovered her new self.
Garance Marillier in Raw (2016) / © 2016 Focus World
As we can see, the essence of youthhood can be seen in various forms, the discovery of which is a genuinely poetic vision of the author embarking on a journey to find the answers or maybe even pose some more questions. One is specific for sure - the long-lasting nature of coming-of-age. There has never been a generation without the painful adulthood transition, and hardly ever would be. Thus, the legacy of the genre is here to remain with us for some good old future decades. Or at least until all of the prosaic and so questions of adulthood find their answers in the minds and souls of the viewers, directors and beloved teenagers.
