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The Adolescent

Name: The Adolescent
Director: Jeanne Moreau
Released: 1979
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

5.8/10

Fair

1979

Director

Jeanne Moreau

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Jeanne Moreau’s direction offers a sophisticated take on the coming-of-age genre. By focusing on Marie’s inner world, the film avoids relying on traditional male validation clichés. The film gains depth by using character interactions to explore identity and social changes. It moves beyond simple moral lessons to offer a nuanced view of human connections and ability to act. Despite limitations in certain types of representation due to the historical setting, the inclusion of diverse ethnic identities and the subversion of social hierarchies add layers of complexity.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Adolescent have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film explores a young person's developing feelings through a complex, unrequited attraction. Though it doesn't show same-sex relationships explicitly, it challenges traditional heterosexual norms.

How does The Adolescent portray gender?

Good

Marie’s journey of self-discovery and her observations of women highlight the importance of women's roles in shaping their own lives. The portrayal of Eva as a multifaceted figure challenges traditional views of motherhood.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Adolescent?

Fair

Including a Jewish doctor in the 1939 French setting adds layers of cultural complexity. This choice provides a subtle commentary on identity during a time of social change.

How does The Adolescent represent religion and culture?

Good

The film focuses on personal experiences and subjective morality rather than strict religious or social rules. It criticizes rigid social structures of the 1930s through a secular perspective.

Does The Adolescent include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of visible or invisible disabilities being portrayed in the film.

Present on Screen

Strong focus on women's psychological development and internal awakening.
Challenges traditional coming-of-age stories and romantic storylines.
Provides a nuanced exploration of identity through a Jewish character in a pre-war setting.

Limited or Absent

Lack of explicit LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex relationships.
No representation of visible or invisible disabilities.

Official Synopsis

In the summer of 1939, 13-year-old Marie goes with her parents to visit her grandparents in a small town near Avignon. Marie discovers her femininity and falls for a young Jewish doctor, but he prefers Eva, Marie's mother.

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