Secondary school (or as our friends across the pond call it ‘High School’) can be really tough. Our teenage years are supposed to be the best years of our lives – but not everyone sails through on a tidal wave of popularity.
Exploiting our differences as human beings and depicting an often cruel environment in a hyperbolic manner has led to the creation of an entirely new subcategory of film: high school movies. We’ve picked some of our school related films and thought about what they were really trying to tell us.
Sixteen Candles – Megan Bakewell
Sixteen Candles, one of the infamous brat pack movies, hopefully it has taught you all, what to wish for your 16th birthday. One of the main things we worry about during school is our parents and family relationships, and I reckon most of us could say we’ve at least thought “Oh I’m the most unloved child,” just like Molly Ringwalds character does.
The film is a cute and funny film about the worst possible birthday Samantha could have. Her parents forget her birthday, she’s too busy crushing on the best looking guy at school whilst being followed around by the ‘geek’ kid in her school year and I’m not sure it could get any worse than her grandparents stating, “Look! She’s finally got her boobies!”
Nonetheless, this film taught me that’s it’s okay to have fights with your parents. Deep down they’ll still be there even if you do scream hatred at them from the end of the hall and that the best way to have fun and live your life is to be yourself, even if you are an angst ridden, pining virgin like Samantha the people who are important are going to show it.
Submarine – Juliette Rowsell
The film that taught us it’s OK to wallow in teenage heartache even if it won’t matter when we’re 38. The film that taught us it’s OK to be a somewhat pretentious introvert with an endless fascination with grammar and death. The film that taught it’s OK to mess up.
Arguably the most poignant coming of age film in recent years (based on the book of the same name by the brilliant Joe Dunthorne), there is very little that Richard Ayoade fails to capture in his dynamic debut as a director: the awkwardness of teenage angst, first love, first heartache, bullying, depression and family turmoil. Yet despite the extensive list of tragedies that occur throughout the film, Submarine never feels heavy or forced, instead guided by the light-hearted and loveable charm of protagonist Oliver.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-WCCdkVDr4?rel=0&w=740&h=422]
Even the title, ‘Submarine’, is perhaps one of the most unique and fitting metaphors for youth in recent times: highlighting our needs to explore while also encapsulating Oliver’s feeling of being out of his depth, lost in an ocean that he constantly reminds us is ‘six miles deep’, feeling small and insignificant – know the feeling?
What is also significant about Submarine is how it has taught our online generation the power in which film and art can unite a generation. The sublime soundtrack; the superb script; the mesmerising acting – all of it has been turned into the stuff of legends thanks to the film’s overwhelming ability to capture the right mood at the right time. It might not have singing cheerleaders or guys in leather jackets, but it doesn’t need to. Submarine is our film, and no one is going to take it away from us.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower – Samantha King
It’s no secret that for some people, high school can be the loneliest time of your life. Even worse if you’re suffering from a mental illness, like our protagonist Charlie does in Stephen Chbosky’s coming-of-age drama The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Charlie is the titular ‘wallflower’ – he’s shy, thoughtful, and keeps to the background, resulting in his high school experience being a particularly lonely one. The film shows, however, that not everyone in school is out to get you, as Charlie manages to find friendship through two free-spirited older students, and even his English teacher.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5rh7O4IDc0?rel=0]
His teacher, Mr Anderson, is an immensely comforting figure for anyone in Charlie’s position; he nurtures Charlie’s affinity for writing and constantly encourages him to “participate” in life, instead of simply watching. His character proves that, like them or not, teachers are there to help and guide you as much as they’re there to teach.
Likewise, Charlie’s new friends Sam and Patrick embrace life to the fullest, and refuse to have any shame in who they are. They help Charlie come out of his shell and, best of all, are completely understanding of his mental illness; they serve as a wonderful reminder that none of us are really alone – no matter how little you think of yourself, you can find always find friendship, though perhaps not always in the way you’d expect.
Mean Girls – Beth Butterworth
Mean Girls has what many people would call a cult following, yet it’s a film that everyone knows the name of. Starring Lindsey Lohan back in her golden days, Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried, it’s probably not everyone’s cup of tea but no one can deny the the sheer satirical genius of some of the jokes (courtesy of Tina Fey, who also stars), all while sending valuable messages to every teenage girl or boy watching it
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAOmTMCtGkI?rel=0]
Though most teenagers don’t get invited to sit on the ‘popular table’ (usually because most schools don’t have one), the concept of wanting to be part of a different group is familiar to us all. Cady Jones gets the chance to and takes advantage of it, choosing to ditch her two best friends and to instead have parties and follow Regina George’s every instruction. Though the ending is somewhat happy, we see Fey’s true message shine through the cracks of the bubblegum comedy – don’t let yourself lose sight of who your true friends are, who would really be there for you if you needed them, just because you’ve been blindsided by popularity or an new opportunity, because when you need those friends again they’ll have given up on you already.
The Breakfast Club – Emily Booth
Perhaps one of the most iconic 80s films; The Breakfast Club, as well as having a talented cast and great soundtrack, also has some important lessons about high school life. Probably the most significant message is to ‘break the cliques’.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXzlCpHK3-I?rel=0]
We may not all get put in a room for a few hours with a group of people from opposite ends of the social spectrum, but schools usually have the most diverse groups of people you’re ever likely to come across. I suppose often with that comes some sort of ‘social hierarchy’ which would actually cease to exist if everybody stopped perceiving it to be real. If we broke the cliques down, as they do in The Breakfast Club, we’d probably get to know some really interesting people whom we have more in common with than it seemed – people aren’t always who you think they are.
Back To The Future – Sophie McEvoy
What if you had the chance to change a simple action in your past that would complete alter your future? With the help of his son Marty, George stands up to long time tormentor Biff and changes his fate. Marty gives George the chance to see that being shy and having a lack of confidence shouldn’t hinder you. That you can assert yourself. Whether that is through knocking out the bully and winning the girl, or just finding your self-worth.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i89wUv25QU?rel=0]
It doesn’t just change you as a person, it changes those around you. They finally see that you’ve realised your potential. And it finally gives you the confidence that if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.
Dead Poets Society – Annie Honeyball
‘No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world’
Starring the much-missed Robin Williams as the eccentric new poetry teacher of a class of boys at an elite prep school, Dead Poets Society explores what it is to be young and impressionable, and unsure of life. In one of many immensely quotable scenes, Williams’ Mr. Keating emphasises the importance of ‘Carpe Diem’, the Latin ideal of “Seizing the day”, imploring the boys to take control of their futures and make what they want from their lives before it’s too late.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_N6ezGK8XE?rel=0]
Keating also inspires the boys to take confidence in their own convictions and to not conform so freely. After one of the boys commits suicide, as a means of freeing himself from the unrelenting forcefulness of his Father’s ambitious plans for him, Mr. Keating is fired when the blame is pinned on his unorthodox teachings. However, in arguably the film’s most iconic moment, one of his meekest students displays an act of undeniably invigorating defiance against the powers that be, when he, and others stand up on their tables and shout “OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN” in tribute to their teacher.
While many inspiring lessons are taught throughout this film, the one I take from it most is the insistence upon being an individual – to commit to your own thoughts and beliefs and to not give in to anyone else’s intentions, but instead to ‘seize the day’ for yourself and turn your life into something extraordinary.
What’s your favourite high school movie? Tell us @indie_pendent_
Compiled by Beth Kirkbride