Eighth Grade - Review

Eighth Grade

Starring impressive new comer Elise Fisher and first-time film director Bo Burnham, the film “Eighth Grade” tells the story of a thirteen-year-old “Kayla” who must endure the daily gauntlet and tidal wave of contemporary pressures growing up as a suburban adolescent. She is trapped by choice and by things out of her control with wanting to make new connections, make new friends and make new social clicks but fully aware that making new friends and entering new social clicks can be filled with petty ruthlessness that can carry a high cruel price.

The film singularly follows “Kayla” the whole film. We watch from beginning to end her being on the verge of gladly wanting to graduate 8^th grade, focusing mostly on her very last week of middle school.  It’s a week that can only be described as a roller coaster of few highs but a lot of disastrous odd and unanticipated experiences as well. The effect on her is both hope and some consternation before moving on to a new high school where things might be better for her there…………. Maybe?

REVIEW: This film, whether you want it to or not, will catapult you back to the very time you were 13. And you will probably revisit that period in your mind with some vivid recall of some uniquely defining events that were great and others that you would rather gouge your own eyes out of your skull not to think about again.

This no holds bar film, with subtle delicacy, places a cinematic microscope squarely over young “Kayla” for all its 94 minutes running time. It will make you laugh occasionally, but it also will make you cringe from the seemingly naked difficulties of what it's like growing up as a young teenager in a status conscious country as America. Its also delves very adroitly into the role of parenting, in this case "Kayla's" father who tried daily not to be passive, naive or oblivious to the hurtful events going on in his daughter - he never assumed things were OK or would itself out. From his side of the film's story that in spite of her many rejections and non verbal communication episodes directed at him, we still see a loving vigilant father striking a tender balance of being engaged into her needs and fears while also giving her own space to grow; to her figuring things out. 

Again, this is not a totally serious story; there are some really funny moments. But overall this is an honest, nuance and solemn story that exams any girl anywhere in America who has to deal with an array of emotional obstacles while learning how to be accepting of herself. 

"Eighth Grade" runs the gauntlet of those many well known emotional issues that seemingly are always being uncontrollable trusted into children's life, ranging from acne, body image, shaming, fashion, status, popularity and sometimes the cruelty that comes from a reliance on social media for personal vindication and acceptance. And its through "Kayla's" eyes we see through this quietly executed film a smart and uncompromising viewpoint of its impact. Directed and executed with clever, sensitive, funny and heartbreaking impact on one young girl who came through those gauntlet of emotional issues with more confidence and more maturity.

This film creeped up on me in an odd way, reminding me of my own adolescent terrain by examining the perilous dynamics of modern adolescence. An examination of a universal awkward period in all of our lives with genuine humanity, decency and realism.

3.75 Stars