The Diary of a Teenage Girl * * * * *

The Diary of a Teenage Girl is one of the best films I have seen this year.  It is brave, expressive, honest, deeply moving, and damn funny at times too.It is also challenging, especially as it asserts it’s honest voice in this age of political correctness. Surprisingly, and happily, it has been warmly embraced and accepted without too many critics getting on to their moral high horse. Nice to know that truth can still win out.

It’s directed by first time director Marielle Heller in an auspicious debut. Bel Powley plays the main character, Minnie. (Powley was last seen playing Princess Margaret in A Royal Night Out so this is a hugely different role and a fair testament to her talent.)

Set in San Francisco in 1976 it's about a fifteen year old schoolgirl who has a sexual relationship with her mother's boyfriend - a thirty five year old man - and they both survive the relationship and surprisingly she doesn’t seem to get damaged any more than he does.  In fact the relationship is just all part of her development - sexually emotionally and intellectually.

The film declares it’s subject matter from the opening scene. “I just had sex today” Minnie tells us in voice-over, and then she gives us a wry smile.

Her diary is spoken into a cassette recorder in her bedroom.

Minnie lives with her mother and younger sister. Her mother retains some of the radiant beauty of her youth and primarily relates to herself through that fading glory.  She doesn’t mind subtly reminding her daughters that they are not as pretty as she was when she was their age. She also seems to drink and take more dope than ever.  

Her father is an intellectual snob and an absentee.  He blows into town once in awhile and condescends to visit his daughters.  

Her mother's boyfriend, Monroe, is cavalier, handsome and charming.  He sleeps over a lot but doesn’t live with them. Him and Minnie like each other very much: they fool around with mock fighting, cuddle on the couch when watching television, share the same rollicking humor.  And the sex thing, just kind of seemed to happen.   Minnie certainly doesn’t seem damaged by it. Interestingly, despite the age difference Monroe does not come across as predatory or exploitative.  He’s a chilled out guy and in some ways he’s just a big kid too.

Minnie aspires to be a cartoonist in the style of her hero Aline Kominsky. Her drawings are integrated into the film at times as they come to life.

Minnie does not believe herself to be physically attractive but after her sexual awakening with Monroe she begins to exude a sexual confidence that her peers cannot help but notice - and find attractive.

There are very few boys of her own age in Minnie’s life.  They’re available but she just doesn’t seem interested in them.  In the few scenes where we see her interacting with them, she seems to find them immature and sexually incompetent.

“I think about it all the time”, she tells her diary with both excitement and shame.  Sex is such a wonderful discovery to her and now that she has discovered this world of sensuality she is keen to explore it - with or without Monroe.

In 1976 the hippies were just about done and rock was finding a new direction: the music of the era is used to great effect. You have to see what she and her girlfriend do to an Iggy Pop poster in her bedroom as Down On The Street blasts through her stereo. Later she tells her diary how she’s taking control of her life and we launch into an electrifying scene of Minnie exploring lesbian sexuality with a new friend as Televisions See No Evil  plays over.  It’s a perfect synthesis.

Most people discard their virginity in their mid to late teens and it seems such a huge step forward, but at the same time not much of a big deal at all.  Yet everyone can remember the sense of change that comes with it. 

This film makes no compromises. It doesn’t attempt to be aloof and protective.  It doesn't send a message that a girl so young should not be having sex with a man so much older - and her mother's boyfriend to boot. It doesn’t say that experimenting with homosexuality, unless you’re naturally inclined that way, will damage you.

When you are  in your teens you are brave, reckless and rebellious, not to mention naive. But you usually survive it. Watching Minnie emerge actually makes you feel happy and privileged to have witnessed this immensely intimate portrait.

It doesn’t treat teenage sexuality childishly or sleazily or in a paternalistic way. Adapted from the book of the same name by Phoebe Gloeckner, Diary of a Teenage Girl gives us raw honesty delivered with an impeccable story-line which is superbly directed and acted.

It shows us how it happened for one girl. It’s a superb piece of drama that will leave you thinking for days later. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
(5)