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Imperfect High

Imperfect High

2021

TV-14

Director

Siobhan Devine

Runtime

87 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Hanna Brooks is the new girl in town who is looking to find her place and fit in at Lakewood High School, which was rocked a couple of years earlier by the shocking drug overdose of a popular student. Hanna suffers from an anxiety disorder and the move to a new school is especially stressful for her. While trying to fit in with the “it” crowd, she finds herself pulled between two boys – a bad boy with a heart of gold, and an alluring, popular rich kid who is not as straight of an arrow as he seems. Her relationship with them sweeps her into a dangerous situation that her mother Deborah must fight to save her from.

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Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.2/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film hints at queer identity through a popular character who is not as straight as he appears. This subversion of the golden boy trope suggests a move away from binary sexual presentations.

Gender Representation

Fair

Hanna Brooks leads the narrative, navigating social hierarchies and mental health struggles. The presence of her mother, Deborah, shifts the focus of crisis management toward female characters.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Minimal

The available information does not specify the racial or ethnic composition of the cast or the school community. No details are provided regarding ethnic diversity.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The story explores systemic vulnerability and situational ethics within a community impacted by drug use. It rejects traditional moral binaries in favor of nuanced character studies.

Disability Representation

Good

Hanna’s anxiety disorder is a central driver of the plot rather than a peripheral detail. This provides an empathetic, agency-driven portrayal of an invisible disability.

Strengths

  • Integrates mental health and anxiety as central, agency-driven narrative elements.
  • Subverts traditional social archetypes through complex, non-conforming character traits.
  • Features female characters in active, protective, and decision-making roles.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit information regarding racial and ethnic diversity within the cast.
  • Queer identity remains hinted at rather than explicitly defined or explored.
  • The scope of cultural representation is limited to social instability and morality.

AI Analysis

Imperfect High distinguishes itself by prioritizing psychological depth over polished high school tropes. By centering the narrative on Hanna’s internal struggles and anxiety, the film treats mental health as a core component of the character's identity and journey. The film also deconstructs social archetypes, particularly through the subversion of the popular student trope and the active role of maternal figures. This creates a landscape where characters operate with more complexity than standard teen dramas. However, the film's diversity is limited by a lack of information regarding racial and ethnic representation. While it succeeds in neurodivergent and gendered storytelling, the broader social composition remains undefined.

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