While the title of this film makes it sound like your typical teen flick, The Diary of a Teenage Girl is a far cry from the likes of Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen or Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.
Set in the bohemian surrounding of 1970s' San Francisco, it tells the story of 15-year-old Minnie Goetze (Bel Powley) as she embarks on a freewheeling sexual odyssey – beginning with her mother’s 34-year-old boyfriend, Monroe.
Minnie describes these encounters aloud into the tape recorder she keeps as a diary. While this leads to some frankly hilarious scenes, we know it isn't going to end well, as the teenager struggles to hide her affair from her mother.
The subject matter is tricky, but the film manages to be both uncomfortable to watch and non-judgemental at the same time. Powley is phenomenal as Minnie, delivering a powerful and unapologetic performance. Emotionally manipulative and sexually demanding, she is not your typical victim.
Alexander Skarsgård shines as Monroe, a character as weak and immoral as he is handsome and charming, while Kristen Wiig shows her serious side as Minnie’s irresponsible and insecure mother, Charlotte. Christopher Meloni also lends his considerable talent to the cast as Minnie’s concerned ex step-father.
The film is based on a graphic novel by Phoebe Gloeckner, whose drawings adorn the film as striking animations rendered by Sara Gunnarsdotti. The artwork adds to its unique quality, while giving us more of an insight into Minnie’s mindset and creative vision.
Copious amounts of sex, frequent drug use and casual swearing have combined to earn this film an 18 certificate, effectively preventing The Diary of a Teenage Girl from being viewed by most teenage girls. This is truly a shame, as it’s rare that you will find such an honest, refreshing and intimate portrayal of the female adolescent experience.
Kayla Walsh
