The boy brings a mysterious half-naked old woman home, but before the father can make sense of her presence, she disappears.
#THE EDGE OF LOVE TV#
Haunted by the ever-present woods, they look on as the TV flashes with floods and processions of refugees.
When the mother, fearing another miscarriage, returns to her family’s home to give birth to a second child, father and son are left to their own devices in rural isolation. Fantastical creatures, it is said, live out there in a castle where feudal lords reigned and Resistance fighters fell. A sound, at first like coughing and then like laughter, emanates from the nearby forest. Parents not easily embarrassed by seeing mature content alongside their teens should watch and discuss the issues explored in this heartfelt adolescent movie.In an unnamed foreign country, a family of three is settling into a house at the edge of the woods. Several scenes are cringe-worthy and uncomfortable, but who among us didn't feel that as a teen? There's a quiet power to Nadine's emotional fragility and what she learns about herself and the people who love and support her. When Nadine ignores Erwin's interest because she's pining for bad-boy pet store clerk Nick, older audiences will want to yell "Noooo, look at the wonderful guy right next to you!" But in the midst of her adolescent angst, Nadine can't quite see that yet. Through Nadine, writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig captures the pathos of being a lonely hearted teen who's unsure of her value, her place in the world, and her own beauty. There isn't a weak link in the entire ensemble. All of the performances are outstanding, actually, starting with Steinfeld and continuing through Nadine's core group of supporting characters, including Harrelson as her long-suffering teacher who secretly thinks she's great, Kyra Sedgwick as her clueless mom who openly favors her brother, Richardson and Jenner as her suddenly-in-love brother and bestie, and Szeto as her adorable suitor. Steinfeld, who's 19 in real life, is likely to stop playing high schoolers soon, so there's something magically poignant about her expressive performance as a deep-thinking, grieving 17-year-old who only has one real friend.
Steinfeld's wonderfully nuanced, authentic portrayal of the delightfully opinionated, angst-ridden, and awkward Nadine turns this sometimes-edgy high school comedy into a touching gem.
#THE EDGE OF LOVE MOVIE#
Despite the strong language and underage substance use, the movie actually encourages communication and could open the door for thought-provoking discussions between parents and teens. The main character lost her father four years before the movie's events take place. Teens drink alcohol at parties and at home (no adults are present), sometimes to the point of throwing up. One scene briefly appears to border on nonconsensual sex a girl asks whether a guy wants to have sex, then says she was kidding when he takes her seriously. There are also a couple of scenes of teens making out and in bed. Frequently used language includes "f-k," "s-t," "ass," "d-khead," and more, and the sexual content includes a social media message that lists out graphic things the main character would like to do with - and to - her crush.
The swearing, sexuality, and themes make it appropriate for mature high schoolers and up. Parents need to know that The Edge of Seventeen is a high school dramedy about an awkward teen ( Hailee Steinfeld).