The angsty teenager is a stereotype in life and a cliché in film; their problems and their reactions are seen as out of proportion to how adults see them. But maybe the issue is that teens just aren’t given enough credit. In Sweetheart, AJ is often the smartest person in the room, which is part of her frustration. How can she communicate with her family when they aren’t even trying to understand her point of view? And because any teen’s unpleasant emotions and behavior is written off as “teen angst” it’s hard to see where they really need help and what they need to learn on their own. AJ, and the other teen girls in this program (Lady Bird, The Virgin Suicides, The Edge of Seventeen, Thirteen), are navigating the world the best they can with what they’re given; an ever-changing teenage brain, hormones, unstable families, cute boys and girls, unreliable friends, school. How can anyone expect them to not feel an angst at the state of the world around them? As Sweetheart cleverly, sometimes comically, displays, the state of teendom is unique to everyone; AJ’s top concerns include a pretty girl, her annoying family, her gender expression and sexuality, and her future plans (which include knitting jumpers for elephants). But every teen has their ways that they don’t fit into the box they were assigned and have to discover and create their life outside the box. A good teen film gives teen issues their due, and Sweetheart does so with light, honesty, and cool sunglasses.
Directed and written by Marley Morrison,
2021, UK
Socially awkward and environmentally conscious teen ‘AJ’ has a few things on her mind. Mostly how the methane from all the cows is destroying the planet, and how she would rather be anywhere in the world than on holiday with her painfully uninspiring family.
Following AJ’s suspension from school, mum Tina has dragged AJ out of her bedroom and driven four hours to the family’s favourite coastal holiday park in Dorset. Joining them is AJ’s neurotic and heavily pregnant older sister Lucy, their curious younger sister Dayna and Lucy’s foot-rubbing, attentive boyfriend Steve.
For AJ, the only thing worse than spending an entire week with her uniquely ‘un-woke’ family, is being in a holiday cabin with no Wi-Fi. She’s determined to have the worst week of her life, but her plan comes unstuck when she meets carefree lifeguard Isla who sees through AJ’S uniquely adopted persona. With echoes of My So-Called Life and Juno - Sweetheart is a quirky, nostalgic coming of age tale for a new generation.
The screening includes a talk hosted by Tish Chambers (IFFO programmer) with guest, filmmaker Jed Nabwangu (Goodbye, Papi).
Tish is pleased to welcome Jed Nabwangu to “The Female Gaze” to talk about Sweetheart and teen angst. As a filmmaker, Jed has addressed society’s extremes and how young women deal with it in her debut short film Goodbye, Papi. Jed is a recent graduate of Ryerson’s Media Production (MA), where her thesis sought to look at and challenge normative understandings of Black female representation in mainstream media. She’s no stranger to IFFO, having moderated a talk at last year’s IFFO Screen Summit and premiered her short film at the Festival.
Centered around Sweetheart, Tish and Jed will have a conversation about the themes of identity, angst, queerness, and loneliness. As seen in Sweetheart, and the other films of the program, teen girls’ angst is never just about the friends, the boys, or clothes; they’re more attuned to the world at large than we give them credit for.
Sweetheart + talk:
Available on-demand from Thurs. Aug. 5, 7pmEDT - Sat. Aug. 7, 7pmEDT across Canada.
Tickets:
$12 (plus HST, CFI Member discounts apply)
Pre-order to get a reminder!
Lady Bird
Directed and written by Greta Gerwig, 2017, USA
In 2002, an artistically inclined seventeen-year-old girl comes of age in Sacramento, California.
THe Virgin Suicides
Directed and written by Sofia Coppola, 1999, USA
A group of male friends become obsessed with five mysterious sisters who are sheltered by their strict, religious parents in suburban Detroit in the mid 1970s.
The Edge of seventeen
Directed and written by Kelly Fremon Craig, 2016, USA
High-school life gets even more unbearable for Nadine when her best friend, Krista, starts dating her older brother.
Thirteen
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke and written by Catherine Hardwicke and Nikki Reed, 2003, USA
A thirteen-year-old girl's relationship with her mother is put to the test as she discovers drugs, sex, and petty crime in the company of her cool but troubled best friend.