Ever since movies became a popular past time in American culture, writers have attempted to capture the innocence, immaturity and downright drama that seems to occur in every teenager's life. Finally, after years and years of trying, director Nanette Burstein has decided to skip the middle man and go directly to the source, the kids themselves.
Over the course of a year, Burstein followed a small group of students who were experiencing their senior year of high school at Indiana's Warsaw High. Through the lens of her camera, Burstein discovered that everything we knew about teens was true, and more. Like us, they experience love, heartbreak, confusion, pressure and discomfort; all while stabilizing an education and dealing with the constant feeling of change and uncertainty. Luckily, every single one of these experiences is captured within the ninety minutes of documented drama that comprises the stellar, emotionally charging and eye-opening film, American Teen.
As the film starts out, we are slowly introduced to our five central subjects. Hannah Bailey, the rebel. Colin Clemens, the jock. Mitch Reinhold, the heartthrob. Megan Krizmanich, the princess. And Jake Tusing, the geek/loner.
While each represents a standard clique that exists in ever high school, when brought together, the five encompass the true identity of an adolescent teenager, taking you on a ride down memory lane; one that you never thought you would have to revisit.
Throughout the course of the film, we get to travel the lives of these five students, experiencing their ups and downs and never being given the chance to help. Hannah, the most liberal of the group, suffers one of the most self-traumatic break-ups ever caught on camera. As a result, the once 'independent' girl finds herself spinning out of control and into a severe depression; one that creates a giant question mark in retrospect to graduation.
At the same time, Colin is working the basketball court, trying to translate his skills into a scholarship that will allow him to avoid serving as a cook in the army and live his dream of playing in the NCAA tournament.
Megan, the student body Vice President and 'bitch' of the film, is coping with the success of her brothers and sisters. As the youngest child in a family of overachievers, Megan is feeling the stress of college, hoping that she will be able to live out her dream and the dream of her father and attend his alma mater, Notre Dame.
And you can't forget Mitch, the good looking heartthrob that "any girl would give her left boob" for. However, things are hard for Mitch as well. Torn between his own feelings and the perception that his friends will have on him, Mitch must make a hard decision as to the romantic future that he will have with his new senior flame.
And then there is Jake. Tabbed as the geek in this film, Jake suffers from a lack of self-confidence and a knack for creating an awkward situation. Wanting nothing more than a girlfriend, Jake takes the long route in finding the woman of his dreams; one that will make you watch as your heart is split over his challenge and then uplifted at his perceived success. Thus, this one man is able to successfully represent the true heartache and revival of faith, love and a truly serene spirit.
However, it isn't each individual expedition that makes this film so complete and irresistible. Instead, it is the combined forces of each lone quest, brought together to form a power that is so enriching and comforting that you can't help but be amazed that others are going through the same experiences that handicapped you during your final year of high school.
Though, in addition to each journey, you can't help but immerse yourself into the stereotypes that each character personifies, and the ones that their friends help to create through their supporting roles. From Megan's friends Ally and John to Hannah's boyfriend Joel to Jake's arc-nemeses Mike, everyone serves a purpose throughout the film, and through this complete complexity of characters the film is able to come alive and demand your attention from beginning to graduation.
