Tag Archives: Coming-of-age drama

Bottoms (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Figthting Girls

Posted on December 6, 2023 by kaist455

Emma Seligman’s second feature film “Bottoms” is decidedly outrageous for laughs, and I enjoyed that. As a high school comedy movie, it is often blatantly artificial in terms of mood and details, but it literally does not pull any punch … Continue reading →

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Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): An enjoyable adaptation of Judy Blume’s classic middle-grade novel

Posted on October 24, 2023 by kaist455

“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.”, the adaptation of the iconic middle-grade novel of the same name by Judy Blume, has enough sincerity and sensitivity besides being a witty coming-of-age dramedy film to enjoy. While it may look relatively … Continue reading →

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Scrapper (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): And then her dad comes…

Posted on October 1, 2023 by kaist455

“Scrapper” is a modest but endearing character drama film revolving around the strained human relationship between two very different characters. Right from when they meet each other for the first time, you will know where the story is heading, but … Continue reading →

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You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A mildly pleasant product from the Sandler family

Posted on September 2, 2023 by kaist455

Probably because I am a South Korean nerd who was mostly occupied with getting good grades except when reading a book or watching a movie, many of American coming-of-age drama or comedy films feel like alien stories from very different … Continue reading →

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Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The tale of a Kraken girl

Posted on July 29, 2023 by kaist455

Animation feature film “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kragen” might have felt a bit more refreshing if it came out a few years earlier at least. During my viewing, I was reminded of several other recent animation films including “Luca” (2020) and … Continue reading →

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Catherine Called Birdy (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): This plucky medieval girl

Posted on July 16, 2023 by kaist455

Lena Dunham’s latest film “Catherine Called Birdy”, which is currently available on Amazon Prime, is a delightful comic coming-of-age tale about one plucky young medieval girl. As its heroine cheerfully bounces from one funny episodic moment to another, the movie … Continue reading →

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The Hill of Secrets (2022) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): A little young girl’s secrets and lies

Posted on July 13, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean film “The Hill of Secrets” is a seemingly simple coming-of-age tale which turns out to be much more complex than expected. As calmly and sensitively observing its little young heroine’s secrets and lies along the story, the movie … Continue reading →

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Return to Seoul (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A manic pixie adoptee girl returning to South Korea

Posted on May 10, 2023 by kaist455

“Return to Seoul”, which was the official submission of Cambodia for Best International Film Oscar in last year (It was later included in the shortlist, by the way), is an interesting work to observe and admire for good reasons. As … Continue reading →

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Piggy (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): The butcher girl

Posted on April 27, 2023 by kaist455

“Piggy” is a little movie which will make you deeply uncomfortable from its very beginning. Dryly but chillingly illustrating its unforgettable adolescent heroine’s anger, fear, confusion, and frustration along the story, the movie will often unnerve you a lot for … Continue reading →

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Bruiser (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): A young black man between two fathers

Posted on April 23, 2023 by kaist455

“Bruiser”, which is currently available on Disney+ in South Korea, is a familiar but engaging coming-of-age drama to be appreciated for good reasons. Although it stumbles a bit during its last act, the movie still holds our attention thanks to … Continue reading →

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