Inspired by “Boyhood”: The 10 Best Coming-of-Age Films

Zach Stetson ’16 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer
To coincide with the release of Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, here are 10 of the best coming-of-age films of all time.  A coming-of-age film is not simply a film with a child protagonist; it is a film that shows a crucial part of a child’s journey into adulthood.

1. The 400 Blows

This film is the benchmark of all coming-of-age films.  It is the first film chronicling the life of Antoine Doinel, a character based upon the director of the film, François Truffaut.  Antoine is forced to move into a home for troubled youth because of his rebellious tendencies.  The iconic final shot of Antoine’s face leaves it up to the viewer to decide if he has learned anything from his experiences.

2. Harold and Maude

Hal Ashby’s Harold and Maude is one of the greatest films ever made.  In the beginning, Harold (played by Bud Cort) fakes his suicide to gain the attention of his mother.  His favorite activity is visiting funerals and he turns his Jaguar into a hearse.  We experience Harold’s journey from a depressed boy into a confident, well-adjusted young man.  This change is brought on by a 79 year-old woman named Maude whose lust for life is infectious.  Harold falls in love with Maude and his life is never the same.  The film is also significant because of its stunning soundtrack by Cat Stevens.

3. Fanny and Alexander

This Ingmar Bergman film is truly a classic, a towering cinematic achievement unlike any other.  The film is called Fanny and Alexander, but it’s really Alexander’s story.  The film opens showing Alexander’s sheltered life in the Ekdahl household.  His family members are warm and colorful.  The first part of the film showcases the Ekdahl family’s Christmas celebration in great detail.  In the second part of the film, Alexander’s life as he knows it is stripped away from him and he becomes trapped in a much harsher life.  The rest of the film documents how this new lifestyle changes Alexander and how his family fights to get him, Fanny and his mother back.
Note: The longer television version of the film is even better than the theatrical cut.

4. Blue is the Warmest Color

This controversial film from last year is a perfect example of a coming-of-age film. Adele is very young and innocent in the beginning. We experience every moment in her journey from a little girl to the young woman we see at the end of the film.  The transformation is made very powerful by an astounding lead performance from Adèle Exarchopoulos.

5. Almost Famous

In this Cameron Crowe film, a young teenager pretends to be an adult in order to cover a band’s tour for Rolling Stone magazine.  The film shows him leaving home for the first time and finding out how to fend for himself in the crazy world of rock and roll.  Along the way he experiences his first love with a girl named Penny Lane played by Kate Hudson.  This film also features a brilliant soundtrack including a very memorable sing-along to Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer.”

6. Frances Ha

Frances (played by the amazing Greta Gerwig) is not exactly a child at the start of this film.  That being said, she is definitely very childlike.  She finds herself unable to escape from the past.  She desperately clings on to a romantic notion she has about her friendship with Sophie.  Over the course of the film, Frances learns to sort out her life, be an adult, and fulfill her artistic dreams simultaneously.

7. Beasts of the Southern Wild

Beasts of the Southern Wild is the story of Hushpuppy. She is forced to become an adult when a hurricane and the government threaten her home and a family crisis strikes. Hushpuppy is one of the most courageous child characters in the history of film. Quvenzhané Wallis makes her character and her journey extremely compelling to experience.

8. The Long Day Closes

This film does not show a clear journey to adulthood but instead presents a collage of childhood memories that don’t add up to a definitive picture.  The film plays as if it takes place inside the director, Terence Davies’, memory.  Scenes flow into each other.  Often consecutive scenes have no logical connection to each other.  This is a beautiful dream of a film that represents a portrait of Terence Davies as a young boy.  The film has an amazing soundtrack with many great oldies that evoke a feeling of bittersweet nostalgia.  This film is not for everyone but it is very emotionally rewarding for more adventurous movie watchers.

9. Spirited Away

One of Miyazaki’s best films tells the story of Chihiro, a little girl who is separated from her parents and stumbles into a bathhouse operated by spirits.  It’s a really beautiful story and it is amazing to see her transformation from an immature little girl in the beginning of the film to a mature young adult at the end of the film.  The transformation is believable and not forced. Miyazaki’s world building here is also breathtaking.

10. Moonrise Kingdom

Wes Anderson is known for his stylish films but his films don’t get the credit they deserve when it comes to their emotional content. Being stylish is a good thing for a film but it does not get you far when your story has no emotional core to it.  Moonrise Kingdom brings the emotion in spades.  It’s easy to get invested in the story of Sam and Suzie from the very beginning.  Their quest for independence from adult figures showcases a very important part of the coming-of-age journey.