San Francisco, 1976; 15-year-old Minnie Goetze (Bel Powley) embarks on an affair with her mom’s boyfriend (Alexander Skarsgård) and starts taping a diary… After turning the graphic novel into a play (and starring in it), Marielle Heller made her directing debut with this screen adaptation that uses the lead character’s interest in comics as an excuse to incorporate animation in charming little ways. This is above all a heartfelt, credible and non-judgmental portrayal of a teenager’s early stab at a sex life, compromised by asinine adults, and drugs. Intriguingly shot to look almost like Polaroid photos; great performances, especially from young Powley.
2015-U.S. 102 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced by Miranda Bailey, Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck. Written and directed by Marielle Heller. Graphic Novel: Phoebe Gloeckner. Cinematography: Brandon Trost. Cast: Bel Powley (Minnie Goetze), Kristen Wiig (Charlotte Worthington), Alexander Skarsgård (Monroe Rutherford), Christopher Meloni, Austin Lyon, Madeleine Waters.
Last word: “Hers is not my story. I did not have that kind of upbringing. I did have a sexual teenagehood, sexual thoughts and feelings. I thought something must be wrong with me because girls like me were not depicted in the media. There’s a fear of teenage girls and sexuality and equality, but no fear of teenage boys and their sexuality. There’s a real double standard, and a sense of danger about teenage girl sexuality.” (Heller, Indiewire)
