Eighth Grade

No far exaggeration when I say this but easily the most accurate portrayal of a teen I’ve ever seen on screen with this second watch noticing more of the loud and subtle details. Despite her being a girl, Kayla holds a candle up to so much of what my life feels like as a confused teen trying to navigate life and this world around me, which is why I’m so glad Bo Burnham made this film. It’s such an honest and raw depiction of what the teenage life feels like, with having no restrain from being cringed out or embarrassed by Kayla’s actions that say so much about how teens strive for acceptance more than authenticity. As a teen still figuring out who you truly are and your identity, it’s easy to feel alienated from others and like you don’t fit in a social box to make friends. With that, you start to latch onto other social norms in the youth sphere to try to assimilate into their circle of connection which is what Kayla does and many have tried as well. The film also talks about it waging fear of stepping outside your comfort zone not just in large situations but smaller ones like social interactions with new people. They can feel like giant situations in our minds of overthinking. The film as expected with the premise around this teen realm talks a lot about how we try to communicate and connect through the internet by doing things like liking people’s post, In order to establish that an interest for mutual friendship is in the question. A much better alternative for establishing that as an Introvert rather than having to step up to them face to face to see those judgmental expressions striking anxiety and fear into your social willingness. Also another detail that I loved about the film was the score. In a way it feels like a character of its own with its punchy youth energy of electronic production. It also feels like a sort of video game theme at times Which is what growing up can feel like as a teen. Being the controller of your life, making calculated moves with different buttons meant to gain the attention, appeal and approval of your peers. Constantly having one obstacle after another through different levels to get to that ultimate goal of a closer friendship or relation with that person. In a way, the score is an immersion experience into Kayla’s mind of rushing anxiety and adrenaline while taking on those tall levels and challenges in the game of middle school life.  The car scene is haunting. Somehow with that one moment it captures so many important topics of discussion for the youth like what we do in the face of peer pressure, the bleak reality of predatory actions targeted at young girls like Kayla, and the nerve wracking experience of independence in the real world of uncomfortable situations like that. It’s an extremely tense and hard to watch scene but easily the most important of the film that serves as a warning to naive teens and parents of the dangers the ruthless irresponsible teen atmosphere brings. There’s so much more personal topics this film conveys like the complex relation between parents and teens with large generation gaps struggling to find common ground, but I’ll leave these conclusions to you as you watch this amazingly moving film.