The Diary of a Teenage Girl, 2015.
Directed by Marielle Heller.
Starring Bel Powley, Alexander Skarsgard, Kristen Wiig, Christopher Meloni and Abby Wait.
SYNOPSIS:
A teen artist living in 1970s San Francisco enters into an affair with her mother’s boyfriend.
Opening with the line “I had sex today, holy shit”, it’s clear that Marielle Heller’s drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl isn’t going to be like any other coming of age story that we’ve seen. Bel Powley expertly plays the rebellious teen Minnie and we follow her journey as she begins an affair with her Mother’s boyfriend Monroe (Skarsgard).
What could have been a standard coming of age story is something else in Heller’s hands. Minnie is unapologetic about her sexuality and her drug use which is refreshing to see. Whilst many coming of age stories follow young boys in their various sexual exploits, it’s rare to see a film which allows sexuality to be explored in such an honest and open way. Despite the fact that it’s set in the 1970s, the themes themselves are timeless and can be easily translated into todays demographic. The Diary of a Teenage Girl finally feels like an honest portrayal of what it means to be a teenager discovering sex, drugs and love.
The central relationship between Monroe and Minnie is handled extremely well. He is 35 and she’s around 16 years old. On the surface this is a predatory relationship but what’s displayed on-screen is oddly touching and romantic at times. Skarsgard does extremely well to bring more depth to Monroe who on paper is nothing more than a 35-year-old man taking advantage of a teenager. At times he acts his age but in others it feels as if he and Minnie are exactly the same in their young idealistic outlook on life. An element of the predator still remains and whilst this isn’t a film with a “sex is bad” message, it doesn’t condone the relationship either.
Having the entire film rest on newcomer Bel Powley’s shoulders was a risky move by Heller but it definitely pays off. Powley is able to exude both innocence and maturity within moments of each other and her youthful outlook on life is admirable. She perfectly embodies the teenager, exhilarated at losing her virginity and confused when boys are scared because she’s too passionate. Her facial expressions reveal much and her narration only adds to her world.
Kristen Wiig as her hippy mother Charlotte gets some fantastic scenes and even though she’s not in the film that much, she nails her character. From snorting cocaine in the living room to a distinctly odd confrontation between her, Minnie and Monroe it’s a serious performance that we so rarely see from the actress.
The Diary of a Teenage Girl is also beautiful to watch. With cartoon imagery intertwining with real life and warm colours throughout, it feels as if you are being illuminated with the experience right alongside Millie. This is a no frills coming of age drama that feels more realistic and relevant than anything that we’ve seen before.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Helen Murdoch is a freelance writer – Follow me on Twitter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=8k_v0cVxqEY
Originally published August 14, 2015. Updated April 13, 2018.
