Ensemble teen coming-of-age.  Tender.  Beautiful.  Scary.

This is a very moving and rich film that completely took me by surprise at the Seattle International Film Festival this afternoon. The film is by a local (Seattle) writer/director named Shawn Telford, and let me tell you, I went expecting a good film, did not expect "great," and was completely blown away when I got FANTASTIC! (Which is one or two notches up from great.) The film, about a group of teens in a small town growing up in single parent households, deals with such heavy issues as substance abuse, date rape, suicide, faith and really cheap beer. Telford has a real gift for the inner life of young men and women, as well as the adults caught up short and alone trying to shepherd them into adulthood. Despite the heavy material, there is a lot of laughter, and some moments of really breathtaking tenderness. This is a film that sneaks up on the viewer, and I came away feeling that I had just watched a mashup of THE LAST PICTURE SHOW, DAZED AND CONFUSED and NEBRASKA.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The family genre features stories specifically created to be suitable for a wide range of age groups within a family. Family-oriented content is designed to be enjoyed by both children and adults, often providing entertainment that is wholesome, relatable, and appropriate for all members of a family to watch or experience together.

Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

The romance genre features the theme of romantic relationships and emotional connections between characters. These stories focus on the development of love, desire, and intimacy between protagonists, often exploring the challenges, conflicts, and triumphs that arise in their relationships.

Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)

The Western genre features stories set primarily in the 19th-century American Old West and often depict the rugged frontier life, exploring themes of individualism, justice, morality, and the clash between civilization and the untamed wilderness. The genre has its roots in the historical context of westward expansion and the challenges faced by pioneers, settlers, outlaws, and lawmen.

John Wayne and Harry Carey Jr. in The Searchers (1956)

Four stories converge in a small town dominated by guns, drugs, sex and violence.

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