The diary of a teenage girl

The diary of a teenage girl, written and directed by Marielle Heller is a refreshing coming of age movie based in the 70s about a 15 year old girl at the edge of womanhood, discovering her sexuality by firstly getting involved with her mother's boyfriend, starring Bel Powley, Alexander Skarskard and Kristen Wiig. I was really looking forward to see this movie, as I've seen critics praise it, but it actually exceeded my expectations. It targets a smart young audience, but it does not limit itself to that.

Bel Powley's character, Minnie is the main focus, however the two other supporting actors steal the spotlight in their own way. At first, Minnie comes off as a naive teenager whose main purpose is to feel that she is wanted by a man. She gets involved in a toxic relationship with her mother's young boyfriend behind her back, confusing his hedonistic desires for her with love, only to find out that life is not as easy as she thought it would be. Her mother is of no help either, as she is absent and blind to what her daughter is going through, while being busy denying her age by partying and doing drugs (which I think can be understandable for that decade). Alexander Skarsgard's character, Monroe is a vulnerable, sad man who manipulates both of them for his own pleasure, regardless of the consequences. In the end, the coming of age theme serves its purpose, as Minnie comes to her own mature understanding of the world, after a series of troubling events.

I like how the movie avoids the cliches present in this genre of movies and is able to stand on its own feet, with original ideas and well rounded characters. The plot is interesting and the cinematography is beautiful, giving a sense of nostalgia throughout the whole movie. The soundtrack is mostly absent, however this is not a problem, because it works like that just fine. The acting is really good and Bel Powley manages to create a good chemistry with all the characters.

Also, the movie has some cool quotes which really stuck with me like the following two:

"Everything is so loveless and mediocre"

"I always thought I wanted to be exactly like my mom. But she thinks she needs a man to be happy. I don't."