Underrated Coming of Age Movies

When Americans hear the phrase "coming of age" they think back to their own experiences as a teenager, their budding sexuality and their fumbling attempts at "being adult." And then they compare these experiences with Hollywood’s depiction of that same period and suddenly feel inadequate. As they cater to the always movie-happy teenage demographic, Hollywood film teenagers are beautiful, having a lot more sex than we ever did, and leading amazingly exciting lives -- making the rest of us feel like losers. (But then when Hollywood tries to make a film about losers, say, Loser, they invariably get it wrong by drowning it a sea of lame slapstick jokes and broad characterizations.) And "losing it" seems to the be theme of just about every mainstream teen movie – not that American Pie isn’t a guilty pleasure of many of us, because it is. But are there any films that really capture that awkward period of life, that "get it" and get it right?

Yes, but sometimes you have to sneak outside of the mainstream to find them. Here are some of the better "coming of age" films of recent years, from America and abroad.

• Show Me Love
  This lovely little Swedish film has probably been unfairly neglected at least in part because of the stigma of being a "Lesbian Coming of Age" story, which is unfortunate. What Show Me Love accomplishes is showing that the problems associated with being a teenager are universal, whether you’re Swedish or American, straight or gay or just plain confused. In a small town, not unlike a typical American suburb, Elin (Alexandra Dahlstrom) is ultra-popular, part of the in-crowd, and the object of desire for most boys. And for one girl, the outcast Agnes (Rebecca Liljeberg). Elin isn’t all that thrilled with the prospects of boys and when the shy Agnes takes a chance and kisses Elin, a repressed side is revealed. Lukas Moodysson’s film reveals the joys and pain of being young, confused and in love with such heartbreaking sweetness that you only wish more films had this kind of courage. Real.
  
  If you liked this, also check out All Over Meand The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love.

• Last Picture Show
  You wouldn’t think a film that won two Oscars (and was nominated for six more) could rightfully be called a "sleeper" but I always see it sitting on the shelves covered with dust; it’s one that people assume that they’ve seen and then realize they hadn’t. Peter Bogdonavich’s film is no less fresh and important today than it was in 1971. Jeff Bridges and Cybill Sheperd made memorable, sexy debuts, but Timothy Bottoms (a prime candidate for the "Should’ve Been Famous" files) was no less impressive. Ben Johnson, Cloris Leachman and Ellen Burstyn are among the many brilliant actors in the supporting cast. This tale of a dying Texas town and the two young men who are stuck uneasily between boyhood and manhood and struggling to make sense of their enclosed worlds, is beautifully photographed in glorious black and white, funny and sad. One of the seminal pictures of the early 70’s.
  The copyright of the article Underrated Coming of Age Movies in Video Guide is owned by Craig Phillips. Permission to republish Underrated Coming of Age Movies in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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