Top 10: Favourite Coming of Age Films
- Cinema Explorer
- Dec 7, 2020
- 4 min read
The journey from childhood to being a teenager and then stepping into adulthood is tough and is marked with physical changes and mental pressures of understanding one's own self and the world around. It is not at all an easy transition and this journey stirs up a lot of feelings inside an individual. These 10 coming of age films are our favorites, we could not include a lot of movies but these are the best according to our personal taste.
1. Udaan (2010):
Director: Vikramaditya Motwane
Udaan is one of the finest films of the previous decade with some stellar performances from the debutant Rajat Barmecha, Ram Kapoor and Ronit Roy. The film explores the inner turmoil, angst, and helplessness of Rohan (Rajat Barmecha) stuck with his hot-headed and aggressive dad (Ronit Roy) in Jamshedpur. Watch the film to understand how a troubled teenager navigates his life while struggling to break free from the shackles of his father, for its beautiful cinematography and Amit Trivedi’s outstanding soundtrack.
2. Lady Bird (2017):
Director: Greta Gerwig
Greta Gerwig hits the ball right out of the park with her solo directorial debut film ‘Lady Bird’; an extremely relatable story of Christine McPhearson (aka Lady Bird, her strained relationship with her mother and her efforts to try and break into the cool students’ group. Lady Bird packs the perfect combination of emotional and comical punch and it will leave you wanting more as the film reaches its end.
3. Boyhood (2012):
Director: Richard Linklater
Boyhood is an experience that every person should witness. Shot in a span of 12 years to capture the childhood and teenage of a young boy, the film will surprise you with its truthfulness, tenderness and relatability. The film is not like a regular film, it has no structured plot but moments of utter honesty and heartfelt emotions. Boyhood will take you on a reminiscent journey of your childhood and teenage years and the experiences you might have had. It is a journey worth your time.
4. Breakfast Club
Director: John Hughes
This is by far the best teen film I have ever seen! It is touching, enjoyable and extremely relatable even today. Five high school students meet in Saturday detention. In the start, we see 5 stereotypical high school teens- a prom diva, a weird introvert, a bully, an athlete and a nerd. But soon we realize the depth of their characters, their issues and their humane side. They are so different yet have so much in common. The film has some iconic scenes and is a brilliant experience worth experiencing!
5. Juno (2007):
Director: Jason Reitman
If you are terrified of JK Simmons after watching him play Terence Fletcher in Whiplash, then this movie will be a surprise to you. JK Simmons plays a loving and supportive dad to teenage girl Juno who gets pregnant and decides to give birth. The film is extremely feel good and touching. The best part about the film is the beautifully written character of Juno. She is cool, witty and savage. Yet she discovers her tender and responsible side with the unplanned pregnancy as she explores her relationship with her best friend (the dad of the baby) and the to-be foster parents of her child.
6. Rushmore (1999)
Director: Wes Anderson
Max (Jason Schwartzman) is an all-rounder. If I start listing the number of co-curricular activities he is involved in, then it probably would take me hours. (Nevertheless, there are a few clubs he has ‘founded’: French Club, Coin & Stamp Club, Lacrosse team, Debate team, Fencing team, etc.) His school Rushmore Academy is his passion. But he finds another passion: his newfound love for a beautiful first-grade teacher. But Max is not the only one in love with her. His buddy Herman Blume (dad of his schoolmate) loves her too. The two pals start a quirky war to win her which is humorous and fun. It won’t be wrong to say that Wes Anderson cannot make a movie that is not thoroughly enjoyable.
7. Dil Chahta Hai (2001):
Director: Farhan Akhtar
Who can ever forget this game-changing film in the history of Hindi films which marked a new era of filmmaking, focusing on the relationships between characters in a mature way which does not feel caricaturish or over the top I still remember watching it over and over again on television, even before I knew what impact it will have on the future generation of filmmakers. Farhan Akhtar’s directorial debut has to be one of the best coming of age films in India which gave us some serious friendship goals and made Goa trips a must for every college-goer.
8. The Squid and the Whale (2005):
Director: Noah Baumbach
Before Noah Baumbach came up with his critically acclaimed ‘Marriage Story, he made another film around the divorce of a couple and the struggles of the children stuck in between. This film is as real as it gets, depicting problems of arrogance amongst parents along with teenage love and confusion, a drinking problem, loss of individuality, anger issues, and masturbation problems amongst the children. This film is a must-watch for someone who loves a good dialogue-driven film with a solid plot and exploration of problems in adolescents.
9. Village Rockstars (2017):
Director: Rima Das
Village Rockstars is an Assamese film directed by the one-woman army Rima Das, who wrote, directed, shot, edited, produced and even did art direction for the film. The film is a melancholic tale that depicts the life of young girl Dhunu (Bhanita Das) who dreams of owning a guitar and starting a band with her brother and friends. The film also acts as a social commentary on the living conditions in Assam amid the threat of floods and poverty.
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012):
Director: Stephen Chbosky
Adapted from the book of the same name and directed by the author himself; this film had to be good; and, it is really good. The film very poignantly combines the themes of childhood trauma, high school love, mental health and homosexuality in this gem of a film. Backed with powerful performances from Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller this film gives you an insight into the mind of an individual as he comes of the age as he struggles with his health.
Written by:
Moksh Jindal
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