What if I told you there were only two kinds of people in the world: those who naturally radiate confidence and excel at life, and those who hope all of those people die in a big explosion? This unique observation is what Hailee Steinfeld’s teen character Nadine says she discovered way back in second grade. Throughout The Edge of Seventeen we watch her slowly re-examine that perception and turn it on its head.
The Edge of Seventeen gradually peels back the layers of its characters to reveal that they are substantially different than they first appear. These characters are initially quite stereotypical — it is, after all, a high school film. There’s the inseparable best friend who stuck with you through thick and thin, the cool older sibling who’s also kind of a jerk, the quirky parents trying to hold everything together, and the distant yet wise teacher (portrayed brilliantly by Woody Harrelson – easily my favorite character of the whole film). The main character Nadine is a lonely outcast who finds herself torn between her feelings for the unattainable hot guy in school and the nerdy, awkward guy-friend who likes her so much he can barely speak around her (Hayden Szeto had me laughing out loud more than once). Scenarios like this evoked classic John Hughes high school films like Sixteen Candles in a way that feels very appropriate in The Edge of Seventeen’s modern setting.
Writer and first-time director Kelly Fremon Craig keeps returning to themes of confidence and self-esteem throughout her film. These are important traits in the life of any teen, but if we’re being honest with ourselves, they are also equally important throughout the rest of our lives. The Edge of Seventeen draws attention to this most readily through the character of Nadine’s mother. At one point in the film she bursts out very dramatically how she is the adult in her household, only to realize that despite what she tries to project, she actually needs more help keeping her life together than her children do.
The Edge of Seventeen is the best teen movie I’ve seen in quite a while. Its unashamedly honest approach brings to the forefront issues like depression, self-esteem, and sex without sugar coating any of it. In a recent interview, Kelly Fremon Craig spoke about how a large part of her preparation for writing The Edge of Seventeen involved interviewing teenagers and hanging out with them in their high schools to make sure that she had an accurate understanding of the types of issues teens are currently facing. She speaks about how she loved talking with those teenagers, which was very evident through her writing and directing.
One of the biggest things that impacted me while watching The Edge of Seventeen is that same sense of empathy for teens and the difficulties they face. What might seem like the smallest issues to others can be very large problems in their eyes, and they often struggle to see a way beyond them. Although The Edge of Seventeen does a great job at depicting this bleak outlook through Nadine’s eyes, Kelly Fremon Craig decided to ultimately provide teens with a hopeful resolution to Nadine’s story.
I don’t always appreciate “happy endings” in films because they can too easily feel forced. However, the happy ending in The Edge of Seventeen felt appropriate because of the hope that it offers to teens who might identify with much of what Nadine went through; it can help them to see that things can get better. Nadine was offered this encouragement by an adult during one of her darkest moments, but that adult would not have been in a position to offer her that help if they had not previously taken stock in her life and consistently offered her a listening ear.
Do you want to impact the life of a teen? One of the best ways to do that is to spend time with them. They are aching to have someone older in their lives who is willing to talk to them and willing to let them talk. The simple act of listening can go a long way.
