ALARIS' REVIEWS

30th April 2010
American Teen (2008)

I have a soft spot for high school stories. From the cynical Daria (1997) to the poignant Dead Poets Society (1989), good coming of age films capture the uncertainty, the intensity, and the aspirations of this crucial period of identity formation.

American Teen is a documentary focusing on several high school students from small-town Indiana, following their personal struggles during graduation year. Although the characters are archetypal, their challenges feel honest and meaningful. There's the bitchy, popular girl trying to maintain control of her posse; the jock whose only ticket to college is an elusive basketball scholarship; the socially awkward geek in search of a girlfriend; and the arty outsider desperate to get out of Indiana.

American Teen plays surprisingly like a slick, narrative film, capturing pivotal, dramatic moments and weaving them together for maximum impact. There's clear editorial influence in the selection of scenes, but the performances feel honest, and the stories are engaging. The director, Nanette Burstein, has been accused of staging parts of the documentary, but the participants claim the scenes are genuine, and if so, American Teen is an impressive accomplishment.

American Teen does a good job of conveying those fraught, high school years, when everything seemed so possible, impossible, and emotionally dire. The themes of identity, growth, friendship, maturity, and the choices we make remain relevant well beyond our high school years.

American Teen is timely viewing for anyone who needs a reminder of what it's all about, and where they're headed.

Verdict: An entertaining and engaging documentary about growing up and growing into who you want to be.

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