5 Coming-of-Age Films That Celebrate Girlhood
by Christiane Salamat
When the greatest coming-of-age movies of our time are discussed, you’ll often hear someone pick out of a slew of ‘80s teen movies and call it a day. Since then, however, the coming-of-age movie has evolved quite a bit. Specifically, female narratives and realistic portrayals of girlhood have reached far more audiences. Here are five picks for female-centered stories that’ll empower, electrify, provoke, and bring you back.
At 14, this was one of the first films I watched that was focused especially on young women and the male gaze. The Virgin Suicides revolves around the Lisbon sisters and their seemingly idyllic, Brady-esque suburban world (spoiler alert: it’s not so idyllic and happy). Aided by dreamy visuals, gothic Catholic imagery and a killer ‘70s soundtrack, Sofia Coppola was able to capture a distinct picture of the intersection of femininity and disinterest that would permeate her films to follow.
Like The Virgin Suicides, Mustang delves into the lives of an angsty (and for good reason!) group of sisters that become increasingly isolated within their conservative household. Set in northern Turkey, the rawness of Mustang depicts the deep repression of female sexuality within society and the universal feeling of longing to be free of the rules that have been set for you by the powers that be
Yes, God, Yes explores the same themes of sexuailty and morality as the first two entries, albeit in a decidedly lighter way. In the film, Natalia Dyer plays a teenager struggling to reconcile her newfound sexuality with what she’s been taught at Catholic school. A new addition to the list (newly released on Netflix this year), the beauty of Yes, God, Yes is its ability to discuss these topics without feeling like an afterschool special.
Released in 2018, Eighth Grade is Bo Burhnam’s directorial debut as a case study in Gen Z youth and what it’s like to grow up in the age of social media. The film follows outcast Kayla Day, masterfully played by real-life-teenager Elsie Fisher, through her last two weeks of eighth grade as she navigates popularity, crushes and the possibilities that high school has to offer. In Fisher’s microscopic mannerisms, like nervously pacing her bedroom while on the phone with a cooler, older girl, Fisher shows us that those feelings of self-consciousness and otherness are a universal part of growing up.
Skate Kitchen centers on Camille, a Long Island teenager who joins a tight-knit group of female skateboarders after encountering their videos on Instagram. Starring members of the real-life, New York-based Skate Kitchen skateboarding collective, the film’s power is in depicting the strength and singularity of female friendships. Watching the group welcome Camille with open arms will remind you of the first time you ever truly felt comfortable within a group – that moment that you knew you had met your people.
*Originally published December 1, 2020. Updated JanuarY 6, 2024
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MARC JACOBS
