Reviews
A curated collection of coming-of-age film reviews focusing on the transitional period of youth. Discover thoughtful critiques that prioritize emotional impact, empathy, and the fragile beauty of growing up on screen. We celebrate young artistic talent and the timeless stories that bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood.
Cowboy Angels (2006)
Cowboy Angels can be described as a mixture of several genres - drama, road film and coming of age - combining their best traits in a unique manner typically associated with the European independent cinema.
The Story of Net (2010)
The Story of Net focuses on the experiences of one 12-year-old Thai boy. After the death of his mother, he sets out on a quest to find his father (who never knew he had a son). As if that isn't a challenge on it own, the little Net can neither speak nor hear, although through the years he has learned to read the lips of the people who speak to him. This coming of age film filled with the elements of friendship, discovery and first-love may intrigue fans of the genre.
Heroes (2010)
Héroes is a remarkable film. It is one of those movies that leaves no one indifferent. As a viewer, I couldn't wish for anything more. And as reviewer, I don't hesitate to recommend it to all of you - fans of the coming of age genre or not. I think chances are very high that you are going to love it as much as I did.
Ali Zoua: Prince of the Streets (2000)
Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets is a coming of age drama that tells the story of a group of street urchins living on the streets of Morocco's largest city - Casablanca. These children do what they have to in order to survive. They steal, they hustle and they beg on the streets.
The Greatest Joke Ever (2010)
The Greatest Joke Ever brings one a sense of nostalgia of days gone by. It is a short film by Sterling Productions which relates the tale of a group of boys playing a practical joke on the new kid in the neighborhood.
The Island on Bird Street (1997)
The Island on Bird Street combines some of the best features of the good coming of age dramas - a first person narrative, a view of the world through the eyes of a child, a forced passage to adult responsibilities and a captivating story that people will remember after the final credits roll.
The Colors of the Mountain (2010)
The story of The Colors of the Mountain touches on some issues essential to any coming of age drama including friendship, peer pressure and a loss of innocence. Beautiful landscape and creative camerawork are other features of this film that make it worth the viewer's time.
The Butcher Boy (1997)
If you are looking for an unusual coming of age film, The Butcher Boy (1997) would be an excellent choice. The premise can be described as coming of age -- gone wrong. One has to see the film to note the difference between Director Neil Jordan's style and the mainstream time-wasters that flood the cinemas nowadays. Experienced in the field of the psychological thriller and drama, his efforts make The Butcher Boy one of the best films I've ever seen in its genre.
Most (2003)
Most is a story of a father and a son, of love and sacrifice. It's a film that will have an impact on you, causing you to search your own soul and perhaps lead you down a path of self discovery. It’s one of those films that will leave an everlasting imprint not only in your mind, but in your heart!
Gli Ultimi angeli (1979)
Marco is an eleven-year-old boy who lives with his dad in a remote country house. His quiet life is thrown into total upheaval when a scheme to gain more attention and affection from his divorced parents backfires, sending him and a new friend on an adventure of a lifetime.
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never
Never Say Never chronicles Justin Bieber's phenomenal rise to superstardom and depicts him as a real person. The story is framed as a countdown to one show, Madison Square Garden, but it is told neither chronologically nor does a majority of it take place there. As much concert footage as there is, Never Say Never doesn’t end up being about the show at MSG, but about Bieber's journey getting to that concert mecca.
The Boy Who Walked Backwards (1994)
In The Boy Who Walked Backwards, the poignant acting of the young Holger Thaarup as Andreas -- combined with the intriguing musical score of Nikolaj Egelunds, the skilled camera angles and the excellent editing -- result in a wonderfully told story which I don't hesitate to recommend to viewers of all ages.