A documentary totally entertaining ... centered around five students, their families and their friends, from Warsaw High School in Indiana.This remarkable experience was produced from 1200 hours of video filtered and condensed into a 90-minute slice of life.
I saw it at the ArcLight in LA (Sunset Blvd) - afterward, four of the five students were there for Q&A. Hannah The Rebel was missing. Later, on my way out of the theater, she was at the display table - seems Hannah had been shopping at Amoeba Music just up the street.
Now, two years after filming, they confirmed the accuracy and veracity of the documentary. Would they change anything? They all agreed: the reality and "drama" of their senior year and family life was accurately portrayed. Only Mitch (The Heartthrob) would change one item - not the film, but the story - he broke up with Hannah by TM - a callous deed that haunts him.
Hannah, by the way, after making her way out to San Francisco, discovered it was too expensive and realized that she's an East Coast gal and is now studying film at SUNY.
"Everyone had a mic on at one time or other" - a large high school in the heartland of America - none of the five knew at the time they'd be the featured personalities, and all of them got used to the camera's presence.
For me, a parent, the disturbing elements were the parents. At one point, I said to my wife, "Shoot the parents." They were loving and supportive, but for the Princess and the Jock, the subtle but persistent pressure to excel was intense. It was hard to watch, and I found myself reflecting on how my wife and I had done with our children, now adults themselves. When Megan and Colin were asked about it, they both agreed: their folks, while pressuring them, were hugely supportive and loving.
Having spent most of my life in and around the Midwest, I appreciated the restraint shown by Nanette Burstein in portraying the Midwest, too often the butt of mindless East or West Coast jokes.
The Midwest is real people, real families, real students, with all the hopes and dreams, fears and frustrations, felt by by human beings everywhere.
Like all of us in high school, the five represent the archetypes: The Princess (Megan), The Jock (Colin), The Heartthrob (Mitch), The Geek (Jake) and The Rebel (Hannah).
I use the word "archetype" to underscore the fundamental character of these personalities - they just are, and in high school, they're raw and pure. Even in maturity, they persist, though refined and more balanced. Though we all know the exceptions - the 55-year old Princess, the aging Heartthrob and the pot-bellied Jock living his memories. Usually, The Rebel and The Geek get it together in adulthood - although the current Anthrax story, sort of like Michael Douglas' "Falling Down," reveal a Geek who only went deeper into the dark corners of the mind.
None of the four students knew Jake in high school. Geeks aren't on anyone's radar screen, but as a result of this experience and now traveling the country for screenings, they've become friends, though Jake, slumped in his director's chair, has dropped out of school, trying to figure things out.
My son, who saw the film with me, didn't like the animation sequences - he saw them as an overly aggressive attempt by the film-maker to "portray" some of the inner thoughts of the Princess and the Geek. Megan's imagination of Notre Dame - a beautiful place where everyone holds hands. Jake, always the gamer, is a heroic knight on his way to save the fair damsel.
As for me, I was satisfied, though the story would have been fine without it - yet I agree with my son on one piece - Jake battled a serious complexion issue, and in the animation portion, where he's the hero, his skin problem is included. I would have thought that in his ideal world of prowess and victory, the complexion would be clear. Oh well.... During the course of the film, Jake's complexion improved (I was told by a reliable source - how about that? - that the director gave Jake a lot of help to clear it up) - though this leads to a slight editing problem - Jake's complexion varies from scene to scene.
If anyone wants an insight into teen life today, this is it, along with the stresses and love of being a parent. Though the school staff plays a small role, they're portrayed honestly - without either demonizing or lionizing them.
Don't bother watching some over-rated TV drama, go see American Teen ... see it several times.
Hats off to the film-makers, but especially to Paramount Vantage for seeing this work at Sundance and making it available. This kind of work deserves serious support.
And with the exception of Jake, it looks like everyone is on their way. Colin is playing basketball on scholarship, Megan is pre-med at Notre Dame (the school of her dreams), Mitch is pre-med also and Hannah's at SUNY studying film. Life has a way of working out.
