Tag Archives: Coming-of-age drama

The Gorals (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): A modest but charming coming-of-age tale

Posted on August 2, 2026 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “The Gorals” is a modest but likable coming-of-age tale about four different high school girls banding together for their little mission to accomplish. As they bounce from one point to another along the story, the movie … Continue reading →

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Summer’s Camera (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): A little sensitive queer adolescent drama

Posted on June 28, 2026 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “Summer’s Camera” is a little queer adolescent drama to be admired for its somber but sensitive moments. Calmly following the uncertain emotional journey of its queer adolescent heroine, the movie subtly illustrates her personal loss and … Continue reading →

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Soar (2026) ☆☆☆(3/4): She simply wants to escape…

Posted on June 21, 2026 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “Soar” is an earnest coming-of-age tale about one desperate adolescent girl who wants to escape from her very unhappy environment. Calmly and sensitively observing how much she struggles to hold onto a rather unlikely opportunity for … Continue reading →

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Romería (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): Getting to know about her dead parents

Posted on June 1, 2026 by kaist455

Spanish filmmaker Carla Simón‘s latest film “Romería” is about an adolescent girl getting to know more about her dead parents right before entering her adult life. While it initially looks like a typical mix between family drama and coming-of-age tale, … Continue reading →

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Little Trouble Girls (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): The sexual awakening of a Catholic girl

Posted on May 20, 2026 by kaist455

“Little Trouble Girls”, which was the official submission of Slovenia to Best International Film Oscar in last year, follows the gradual sexual awakening of one introverted adolescent Catholic girl. It is apparent from the beginning that she does not know … Continue reading →

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The Little Sister (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): A young Muslim lesbian woman during several seasons

Posted on May 17, 2026 by kaist455

“The Little Sister”, which won the Queer Palm award when it was shown at the Cannes Film Festival early in last year, is a sensitive coming-of-age queer drama about one plain Muslim lesbian woman. As observing how much she struggles … Continue reading →

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Hello, My Name Is Doris (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): Her very late coming-of-age story

Posted on May 4, 2026 by kaist455

To be frank with you, I am a rather socially awkward person, but even I shake my head as observing the heroine of Michael Showalter’s 2015 film “Hello, My Name Is Doris”. Besides being quite socially awkward, she is also … Continue reading →

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Renoir (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): Detached and confused

Posted on April 23, 2026 by kaist455

Chie Hayakawa’s latest film “Renoir” takes some time for letting us grasp what and how it is about. At the beginning, you may often be baffled about where the story and its quirky young heroine are going, but you will … Continue reading →

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Crooklyn (1994) ☆☆☆(3/4): A childhood in Brooklyn in the 1970s

Posted on March 20, 2026 by kaist455

Spike Lee’s 1994 film “Crooklyn” is a little but charming family drama which is often interesting for its semi-autobiographic elements. Written by Lee and his two siblings Joie Susannah Lee and Cinqué Lee, the movie certainly feels quite personal in … Continue reading →

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El Sur (1983) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Remembering her father

Posted on March 15, 2026 by kaist455

Víctor Erice’s 1983 film “El Sur”, whose 4k remastered version was recently released in South Korean theaters, is a simple but undeniably powerful coming-of-age drama to admire and savor. While it is relatively more forthright in terms of storytelling compared … Continue reading →

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