My experience with coming-of-age movies is limited, but I find they tend to follow the same formula: a dilettante wants to change the world, or at the very least get the hell out of Mayberry, and ends up right where they started but slightly more enlightened. Even the “really good” ones boil down to this pattern, IMHO. So I’m curious about two things. 1) Is this what growing up is actually about and I just did it wrong? (I had bigger fish to fry as a teenager than finding myself.) 2) Is there a way to improve upon this formula that preserves the substance and style of a coming-of-age flick? Because when I consider alternatives, they end up branching into other genres that happen to be about a young person finding themselves and don’t center on the coming-of-age part.
Screenwriting : Coming-of-age quandries by Stephen Floyd
Coming-of-age quandries
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Hi Stephen,
It sounds like we have different views on what a "Coming of Age" film is. City of God; Juno; Ladybird; Moonlight; Dope; Perks of Being a Wallflower; Stand by Me; and Cinema Paradiso (one of my favorite films of all-time) would all be considered "Coming of Age" films - and not a single one has a dilettante, and they all have pretty big fish to fry.
Maybe you're strictly thinking about certain teen movies that you feel are somewhat similar; contain the same tropes (which aren't bad things in themselves); and might be more silly than serious.
But there's nothing wrong with the John Hughes' films; Clueless; American Graffiti; Adventureland; Superbad; Eighth Grade; etc. either. They're all pretty serious; have three-dimensional transformative characters; and explore deep themes while being pretty funny, too.
I love "Coming of Age" films like the ones I mentioned above, and especially when the backdrop also reflects changing times, and having to make tough decisions - like giving up something in order to gain something. Those are a dozen or so great films I listed above (and that's just a couple handfuls of the many great "Coming of Age" films), in case you haven't seen any of them.
Best fortunes in your creative endeavors, Stephen!
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I think the coming-of-age part IS the young person finding themselves.
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... Combine with "Institutionalised" . Boy on boat with Tiger. Both need to grow to survive. Form an unlikely bond. Lots of time to reflect on life.
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Well the difference in reality versus movie is that the characters have to go on a journey that is intense and meaningful. In reality normal life would make a dull two hours.
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Look at Good Will Hunting, it's certainly a coming of age story and ends with the character leaving everything he knows behind (spoiler).
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Stephen, You're taking a very small sample size of Coming of Age movies. Saturday Night Fever was considered a Coming of Age film and it was much deeper - and vulgar - than that. It earned John Travolta his first Best Actor Nomination from The Academy. I also agree with the other examples given in the thread.
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A Bronx Tale is also another of my favorite "Coming of Age" films. For those who haven't seen it, it's based on Chazz Palminterri's play about a boy in NYC who dangles between his poor, straight-laced father and a prosperous and immoral mid-level hood. He also struggles with loving an African-American girl, which could have got you killed back in the 1950's and 1970's. That is one great film.
For Karen Stark: I love me some UK "Coming of Age" films, too. Ratcatcher Angela's Ashes, and About a Boy are among my faves. And To Sir, With Love, of course.
Best fortunes in your creative endeavors, Karen and all!