The Edge of Seventeen

The Edge of Seventeen 

Title: The Edge of Seventeen 

Movie Director: Kelly Fremon Craig  

Production Company: STX Entertainment, Gracie Films   

Copyright: 2016 

Genre: Comedy, Drama  

Awards or Honors: Haillee Steinfeld was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her performance. The movie and cast also received several nominations for awards from the Austin Film Critics Association, Central Ohio Film Critics Association, and Chicago Film Critics Association Awards. Haillee Steinfeld won the 2016 Women Film Critics Circle Awards for Best Young Actress.  

Watching Level: R 

Plot Summary: The movie follows 17-year-old Nadine as she navigates high school and its challenges. Her best friend Krista begins dating her brother Darian, putting a strain on her relationship with Krista and causes her to lash out at the world. She has arguments with her brother and mother and ends her friendship with Krista. She also rejects the advances of another student, Erwin, at school and his house. After an argument with her mother, she steals her car and eventually makes her way to see her teacher, Mr. Bruner, at his home. After talking with Mr. Bruner, her brother picks her up, and they have a conversation, and they reconcile. She then reconciles with her mother and Krista. She then goes to an animated film festival that Erwin had invited her to. She hangs out with him and decides to spend more time with him. She also decides to try new things and meet new people.   

Movie Director Background: Kelly Fremon Craig is from Whittier, California, and she graduated from UC Irvine with a degree in English. She began working on The Edge of Seventeen in 2012 and finished with help from production companies. While in college, she wrote poetry and did sketch comedy.   

The film also gave Kelly Fremon Craig multiple nominations and awards for her work. She won the 2016 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards for Breakthrough Artist and the 2016 New York Film Critics Circle Awards for Best First Film. Since then, she has gone on to work and write on movies like Bumblebee. She now lives in the Los Angeles area with her family.   

Critical Evaluation: The cast featured many well-known people who have achieved recognition for their earlier roles. Woody Harelson has been nominated for the Golden Globes and Emmys, while Hailee Steinfeld was nominated for awards based on these movies. The writing is witty and sharp, and the dry and occasional dark humor is a theme throughout the film. The soundtrack has a range of genres like electronic pop, rap, indie pop, and rock that will appeal to multiple music fans. Songs like Someone Else by The 1975 are widespread. The storyline is well put together and provides several surprises, a cheerful ending, and shows how teenagers can grow through different experiences. The movie manages to be both funny and emotional and takes the audience through different emotions.   

Creative Use: This movie can be used during a summer movie night and be part of a movie program for a public library. As part of the movie night, teenagers and library staff can discuss decision making that teenagers often make. Many teenagers need help and a space to discuss issues of romance, college, and self-identity. Discussions afterward can also involve providing other books that address specific themes that address some of the movie’s issues.   

Speed Talk: Nadine has never been the popular student or member of her family but has always had her best friend, Krista, to rely on. But when Krista starts dating Nadine’s annoying popular brother, her decisions seem to make things worse. From accidentally sending X-rated texts to her crush to having her English teacher be her only friend, Nadine must deal with the weirdness of life and learn how not to screw things up for herself.   

Potential Challenges: The movie is still rated R, and there might be some challenges based on sexual language, sex scenes, jokes that include inappropriate languages. It also has teenage drinking, and I would say the movie is more for older teenagers. It does not have any challenges at this point.   

Reason for Inclusion: I included this film because it is a major award-nominated movie from the cast and director. It also features young up and coming actors and actresses that teens would know. It is also a recent movie and provides realistic examples of anxiety teens face. Many teen issues are presented to the audience realistically, making teens realize they are not alone in dealing with issues.  

Kelly Fremon Craig Biography. (2020). Imdb.com. Retrieved September 29, 2020, from https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2609807/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm 

The Edge of Seventeen. (2020_. Imdb.com. Retrieved September 29, 2020, from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1878870/awards?ref_=tt_awd