Tag Archives: Coming-of-age drama

Better Days (2019) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): Her bodyguard

Posted on August 2, 2020 by

Chinese film “Better Days” is a familiar but compelling mixture of brutal school drama, sensitive coming-of-age tale, and unabashedly old-fashioned romance. Right from the beginning, you can clearly discern what you are going to get, but then you will find … Continue reading →

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Water Lilies (2007) ☆☆☆(3/4): A tomboy’s first crush

Posted on July 30, 2020 by

Céline Sciamma’s first feature film “Water Lilies”, which is going to be released belatedly in South Korean theaters in next month, is a detached but compelling coming-of-age tale of sexuality and maturation. Mainly revolving around the viewpoint of its young … Continue reading →

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The Half of It (2020) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A refreshing coming-of-age drama by Alice Wu

Posted on May 9, 2020 by

To be frank with you, I did not expect much when I watched the trailer of Netflix film “The Half of It”, which received the Founders Award at the Tribeca Film Festival before released on Netflix in last week. While … Continue reading →

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Selah and The Spades (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): A little distinctive debut work to notice

Posted on April 20, 2020 by

“Selah and the Spades”, which was released on Amazon Prime in last weekend, is a little distinctive debut work which may be regarded as the starting point of a major talent to watch. As a guy who did not have … Continue reading →

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Big Time Adolescence (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Still not growing up at all

Posted on April 12, 2020 by

“Big Time Adolescence” is about one problematic friendship which seems to be going nowhere even at the end of the story. As observing its two different lead male characters, we come to see that one of them must grow up … Continue reading →

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Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): Not a failure at all

Posted on March 9, 2020 by

“Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made”, which is currently available on Disney+, is a witty and whimsical comedy film which will entertain not only its target audiences but also other audiences out there. While it is as broad and simple as … Continue reading →

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Premature (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): One summer romance in Harlem

Posted on March 8, 2020 by

“Premature”, which won the Someone to Watch Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards early in this year, is a modest but intimate tale of young romance set in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Mainly revolving around a … Continue reading →

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All the Bright Places (2020) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): An earnest young adult romance drama

Posted on March 3, 2020 by

Netflix film “All the Bright Places” is an earnest young adult romance drama about two troubled adolescents with each own issue. While I appreciate its somber and sensitive approach to its dark subjects including grief and mental illness, the movie … Continue reading →

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Mickey and the Bear (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): As she struggles to live with her dad

Posted on March 2, 2020 by

There is a vivid, palpable sense of frustration and exasperation in “Mickey and the Bear”, a small but intimate drama film about an adolescent girl who has been stuck in a small town in Montana. Through a series of episodic … Continue reading →

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Jojo Rabbit (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): An uneven World War II comedy by Taika Waititi

Posted on January 5, 2020 by

Taika Waititi’s latest comedy film “Jojo Rabbit”, which won the Grolsch People’s Choice Award when it was premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in last September, is a typical case of whimsical mixed bag. While it has some nice … Continue reading →

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