'Coming-of-age' film example 2

Mean Girls (2004)

American

Director: Mark Waters
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, Amanda Seyfried and Lizzy Caplan.

Mean Girls is a coming-of-age comedy, about Cady Heron, a girl who has moved to Illinois with her parents. She has just started a new school, and soon becomes friends with a school outcast, Janis. Cady soon learns of 'The plastics' the most popular girls in school, and Janis comes up with a plan to get Regina George back, after the way she treat Janis, by using Cady.  Cady goes along with the plan, learning all about the 'popular lifestyle'. Whilst she hangs around with them, Cady learns that being popular isn't a good thing, and understands that being friends with Janis is much better. The audience see Cady grow up, and watch her transform into who she is meant to be.  The film had a huge opening weekend and achieved much success, making it a favourite even today.  Mean girls even won some nominations and awards, which shows that as a coming-of-age film, it succeeded in attracting attention, and Waters accomplished his task of getting an audience to understand the dramas of teenage life.
Notes on the film:

• Focuses on the struggle to fit in among different people-a common theme among coming-of-age films as this helps to show the audience how much the main character has grown up, changed and matured throughout the film when it comes to the end of the film.

• The main character comes from a completely different part of the world-Waters has therefore prepared the audience for the difference in locations. The audience knows that it will be different, however, Cady doesn't, and is therefore shocked by the people attending her new school.

• Mean Girls had a mostly teenage audience, however adults found it funny. Tina Frey said in an interview that for teenagers 'it's much too close to their real experiences'-This is common in many coming-of-age films, as the director has to make it as realistic as possible, so that it is believable, and so that audience can engage with the characters more.

• Cady, the main character isn't very wealthy, again, often seen in these films.

• Main character is manipulated in to doing things, however, this is the very thing which teaches her about other people.

Todorov narrative theory

1. Equilibrium Naomi goes to Wyke college, and is like every other student; she enjoys nights out and having parties.

2. Disruption
She finds out that she is pregnant, realising that she has a decision to make before it is too late.

3. Recognition of the disruption
She spends her time trying to decide what she is going to do. She spends less time with her friends, basically putting her socail life on hold. She finally decides to keep the baby after she has thought it over.


4. An attempt to repair the damage
Naomi decides to keep the baby, and go through the process on her own, because many people no longer want anything to do with her.  There is a flash forward, which shows that she had bought things for the baby, and is seen pushing her in the pram and spending time with her, which shows that she is maturing.

5. New equilibrium
Naomi has started a new life with her baby, having matured and accepted the big chnage in her life.

'Coming-of-age' film Example 1

Submarine (2010)
British
Director: Richard Ayoade
Starring: Craig Roberts, Yasmin Paige, Sally Hawkins, Noah Taylor & Paddy Considine.

Based around the life of Oliver Tate, the audience watch him grow from a somewhat shy teenager, to a young man who understands things more clearly. Ayoade has shown Oliver's growth through his strained relationship with his parents and his relationship with his girlfriend, Jordana. Ayoade has used many voice overs throughout the film, making it seem as though Oliver is talking directly to the audience about this period of his life.

Produced by Film4 and Warp films, it was a low budget film, which achieved much success. The film premiered at the 35th Toronto international film festival in September 2010. It achieved a positive reaction, particularly among younger audiences.

Notes on the film:

• Craig Roberts character, Oliver deals with many personal issues, such as the tension between his parents relationship and the problems with his own relationship with Jordana. This is popular in this genre of film, and problems like these are often seen in them to show the characters progression through such difficult times.
• Realistic situations-often in 'Coming-of-age' films.
• Often sad elements of truthfulness throughout the film in order to make it more realistic.
• Working class characters
• Teenagers-focused around other students as well.

Genre!

The genre of my short film extract which I have chosen is  'Coming-of-age'/Drama. I will base my own work, including planning and ideas from the research of other 'Coming-of-age' films, both American and British ones. This genre focuses primarily on the psychological growth of the younger generation on their path from childhood to adulthood. One of the main features is the emotional responses seen within these films, which help the audience to understand the characters and their situations. Flashbacks are often used in 'coming-of-age' films, and I have decided that I will use some in my creative piece.
This genre of film can be seen through short budget British films to High grossing American and British films, showing their diversity within the genre across the world. The genre allows a wide ranged audience, particularly teenagers being increasingly interested in them.
Genre conventions:

• Teenager in the midst of the 'growing up' stages of life

• Believable characters and story lines

• Truthful stories-there's always an element of truth in the films, things that the audience may easily relate to.

• Usually has an unpopular character, who changes or the opposite- a popular character, who changes for the better.

• Simple filming: Normal locations are often used, such as quieter areas or city centres-There may sometimes be imaginary places, but this is often seen in fantasy films which focus on characters growing up.

• Use of flashbacks and flash forwards-this is to emphasize how the character has changed over time and helps to tell the audience the story.

• Often themes of developing sexuality, growing up and the transformation between teenage life and adult life.