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Adolescents

Name: Adolescents
Director: Sébastien Lifshitz
Released: 2020
Duration: 135 min

Representation Score

7.0/10

Good

2020

Director

Sébastien Lifshitz

Runtime

135 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Lifshitz’s documentary provides a deep longitudinal study of identity development. By following Emma and Anaïs over five years, the film explores how queer identity and social background intersect during the transition to adulthood. The work stands out by centering underrepresented identities and allowing the subjects to drive the narrative. This approach disrupts traditional observer/observed power dynamics and challenges straight-centered hierarchies. While the film is a crucial text in queer cinema, its diversity is more focused on socioeconomic and sexual identity than racial or ethnic variety.

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Category Breakdown

Does Adolescents have LGBTQ+ representation?

Excellent

The film focuses on non-straight identities, integrating themes of attraction and coming out into the main storyline. It allows the characters to shape their own intimacy and identity.

How does Adolescents portray gender?

Excellent

It disrupts traditional gender roles by highlighting the fluid nature of young women's interactions. The film presents a range of femininities and masculinities that resist simple binary categories.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Adolescents?

Good

The film offers a nuanced look at contemporary French society through various socioeconomic backgrounds. However, the primary focus is on sexual identity rather than a wide range of racial diversity.

How does Adolescents represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film emphasizes the personal beliefs of the teenagers over traditional institutional values. It shows a tension between the characters and authority figures such as schools and parents.

Does Adolescents include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no significant portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities as central narrative elements.

Present on Screen

Strong focus on queer identity and non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth lived experiences.
High degree of character's ability to drive the story in shaping personal and social identities.
Effective deconstruction of traditional and institutional social norms.

Limited or Absent

Limited focus on a broad spectrum of racial and ethnic diversity.
Lack of representation regarding physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Emma and Anaïs are best friends and yet everything in their life seems to set them apart, their social backgrounds but also their personalities. From the age of thirteen to eighteen, Adolescentes follows the two teenagers during these years where radical transformations and first times punctuate daily life. Through their personal stories, the film offers a rare portrait of France and its recent history.

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