Eighth Grade, directed by 27-year-old Bo Burnham, is about an 8th grade girl during her final week of middle school. It’s extraordinary for many reasons, the main one being Burnham is a man. Normally men have done “coming of age” films about boys. That’s their “way in” because they know it, they’ve lived it. There’s nothing wrong with that. Bo Burnham, though, has said that when he started doing research for the film, watching kids’ videos on Youtube, “The boys were talking about Minecraft and the girls were talking about their souls.” He felt that girls were engaged with deep questions – earlier than boys – and that intrigued him. He ALSO said – and I love this – that he wanted to AVOID being too closely attached to his main subject – this is NOT a movie about his own boyhood. And so making her a girl would help him avoid that, because he knows nothing about being a 13-year-old girl, and BECAUSE of that, all he had to do was listen to how girls talk about themselves, listen to the 13-year-old actress Elsie Fisher playing the lead role. Let HER lead the way. The fact that it works so well – that women are seeing this film and feeling such a queasy recognition of their own Tween years – is a credit to Bo Burnham’s empathy.
My review of Eighth Grade is now up at Rogerebert.com.
This is a terrific interview with Bo Burnham over on Ebert.com, which gives you a real sense of who he is as a person, his interests, his engagement, his generosity.
I’ve meant to say this on your last like four reviews Sheila but you’re on a real tear lately with this writing — perceptive and well-articulated, deep but easy to read, generous but taking account. I’m really enjoying them.
Thank you so much, Jessie!
Thank you for putting this on my radar. I was blown away by that actress’s performance. I teach middle schoolers, and I thought it was a very insightful choice to avoid the typical John Hughes bullies. I love John Hughes movies – but that’s not how I see kids bullying each other these days. (Especially not quiet middle school girls.) No one teased her about her weight or her acne; they wouldn’t. They just look right through her, which is a different kind of agony. That felt profoundly true, and familiar. Can’t help thinking of “The Fits,” which I saw two years ago after reading your review. Another thoughtful, vulnerable film about this age group, another powerhouse lead actress. Very different films, but I’m glad that male and female directors alike are taking an interest in the experience of girls and their journeys toward identity.
I’m so thrilled you went and saw it!!
// No one teased her about her weight or her acne; they wouldn’t. They just look right through her, which is a different kind of agony. //
What an interesting observation.
and yes – The Fits! I thought of that too – same age group, an age group rarely represented accurately. 13 year old girls, man … it’s its own THING.
// Very different films, but I’m glad that male and female directors alike are taking an interest in the experience of girls and their journeys toward identity. //
I so agree! I’m so impressed that Bo Burnham – a man who’s not even 30 yet – has enough curiosity and empathy to invest his talents into exploring the experiences of a 13 year old girl – and that he did it so well. Hats off to him!