Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Lollivan It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Josephina Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Movie_Muse_Reviews The title "The Diary of a Teenage Girl" sounds like it would entail a fairly tame iteration on a female coming-of-age story, yet Marielle Heller's debut as both writer and director happens to be the boldest coming-of-age indie ever made – and the most challenging."Diary" stars Bel Powley as Minnie, a 15-year-old aspiring cartoonist in 1970s San Francisco looking for an opportunity to lose her virginity. She does, and it comes in the form of her mother's (Kristen Wiig) boyfriend, Monroe (Alexander Skarsgard). As their illicit relationship becomes more and more involved and complicated, Minnie's relationship with her sexuality – and herself -- becomes equally so.There's no denying that it is difficult to overcome the moral issues of Minnie and Monroe's affair, and it requires of Heller a very sensitive touch and an iron-clad sense of purpose. She sugarcoats nothing for those with delicate sensibilities. There are a lot of sex scenes that by their very nature will make viewers uncomfortable, but Heller successfully avoids exploiting the character or veering off-message. She treats Minnie as an adult, and in her writing, it's clear that neither character is solely responsible or solely to blame for the relationship. The hardest thing to shake, as a viewer, is our tendency to be moral judges of Minnie's decisions and to hold notions of what the consequences should or will be for her actions. Switching gears and abandoning that approach to watching this story will be harder for some than others, but once it becomes clear that Heller's vision is completely judgment free, it becomes easier to embrace that aspect of the film.Naturally, the explicit nature "The Diary of a Teenage Girl" makes it instantly different than most coming-of-age movies. The usual archetypes associated with this sub-genre are much less ubiquitous, and the notion of a "loss of innocence" in the literary sense gets completely redefined here considering Minnie actively plays a role in it. The '70s time frame is a bit of a clue that this is not a movie intended for budding teenagers, rather for people who have already been through such formative, challenging experiences. Further evidence: the story comes from Phoebe Gloeckner's semi- autobiographical graphic novel of the same name.The maturity of the film, especially as it sees Minnie, requires a lot of Powley. She must be wide-eyed and optimistic, yet also advanced for her age and kind of devious. She must be sure of herself, yet unsure at various moments throughout the film. Powley (22 at the time of filming) is just old enough to get it down pat. As much as Minnie has flaws, we never come to despise her, and that credit belongs to the writing. There's a poetry to the diary narration in the film, but it's language that resonates. So much of what Minnie thinks and feels mirrors our own experiences (especially the insecurities), even if those experiences weren't as scandalous.Because we see the supporting characters from Minnie's perspective, they have to work harder to earn our empathy. It's virtually impossible for Skarsgard to earn it as Monroe, but he does convey that Monroe is a deeply lost, childlike soul. Wiig, on the other hand, does an impressive job in this non-traditional role for her as the mom, Charlotte. Charlotte does hard drugs with friends and says all the wrong things to her daughter, but her love for Minnie is apparent as are her other struggles. Her lack of affection and approval of Minnie undoubtedly has a hand in her desire to seek it through Monroe and others through sex.The animated graphic elements styled after the novel are excellent, if not underutilized. At the same time, adding this facet to the movie creates a slight bombardment of storytelling styles. You have the narration piece, the cartoon/animation piece and then the fact that this is a movie. It splinters the film's identity a bit, but all these media have something to offer the viewer in conveying Minnie's journey and experiences.Where Minnie arrives at the end of the movie is pretty satisfying and inspiring, even if you have to wonder whether a 15-year-old is really capable of arriving there. The story has a strong feminist message that people still struggle to learn, and has real-world value. It took some really uncomfortable, traumatic stuff for her to get there, but her self-discovery is more poignant than most of her indie coming-of-age peers.~Steven CThanks for reading! Visit Movie Muse Reviews for more

Antonius Block It's San Francisco in the 1970's, and a single mom's bohemian lifestyle leads to one of her boyfriend's having a sexual relationship with her teenage daughter, who opens the film proudly proclaiming "I had sex today … Holy s**t."Despite the statutory rape, drug use, and free use of profanity which may put some people off, this coming-of-age movie is empowering, with several positive messages – embrace your creativity, maintain your self-worth, remember that enjoying sex as a woman doesn't make you a slut, experimentation is OK and you can run away from bad situations, and through it all, you don't need someone else to love you, but you have to love yourself.The animation that is woven into the movie is beautiful, such as when the girl is on an LSD drip and imagines herself to have wings and to be hovering above the room. Her diary is also sometimes quite poetic, for example, "It would've been better to have slept and dreamed than to watch the night pass and the slow moon sink."Bel Powley turns in a great performance, beautifully balancing the girl and emerging woman within, expressing herself with her eyes, and delivering truth in a wide range of emotional moments, some of which are fairly new ground for mainstream cinema. There is quite a bit of nudity, which can be uncomfortable as the character is 15 years old (though Powley herself was 23), but it doesn't at all feel like exploitation in director Marielle Heller's hands, and seeing a body type that is different from the prescribed Hollywood and fashion-industry definition of 'beauty' is refreshing – for Powley truly is beautiful. Alexander Skarsgård, who fans of 'True Blood' will recognize, is suitably "confused", conflicted, childish, manipulative, and licentious all at once, and his nuanced performance was very important to making the movie successful. Kristen Wiig is solid as the mom who dispenses inappropriate advice, and who's partying ways don't exactly serve as a great role model.I like how the girl explores her sexuality as a boy might ("Do other people think about f**king as much as I do?"), and doesn't end up pregnant or crushed, even though the object of her affections for much of the movie is 20 years older, which, while cringe-inducing, feels brutally honest. And, in the end, despite how the adults in her life have let her down, and despite all of the difficulties in growing up, we know that she's not only going to be all right, but that she's going to fly.

bjarias There are numerous wonderful performances in this brilliant little film. But two of them are great, and another is just amazing (star-making.. few outside of England had heard her name before, but that has all ended with this career making role). From start to finish this film grabs you, and doesn't let go for a minute. It well deserves all the accolades it's receiving, and is so timeless, it will keep on being discovered by viewers for a very long time to come. It's impressive on all levels.. writing, casting, acting, filming, directing, production values.. there are no noticeable weak points. It's video library category.. to be enjoyed again as time passes. Don't think of missing it.

arseniy Such a painfully typical and yet utterly unique story - all at the exact same time. And despite this being the case for all our stories - said juxtaposition remains an ever-difficult one to capture. Success in so doing, most always constituting the mark of a great film. Another ever-illusive and critical such juxtaposition largely pulled off here - is to help empower on the one hand, and yet to do so honestly on the other. Instead of spouting proud PC (black/elderly/latin/native/girl/etc.)- power escapism propaganda - peddled by so many lesser films. Abandoning honesty/objectivity is just so rarely worth the grave corresponding price. While honest empowerment, most always transcends simple-minded, biological-marker-based team-think. And so, ultimately, this is one of those comparatively few films - which makes me genuinely happy it exists. Minor warts and all.