Two very important things about me, I love coming of age films and I spend too much of my time on twitter. Unfortunately, these two facts often combine to leave me extremely frustrated. See the thing is, I’ve come to realize that so many people don’t actually know what a coming of age film is. A lot of people seem to think that any film starring preteens/teenagers is a coming of age film. That is not the case.
What’s a coming of age film? It’s a film that depicts one or more protagonist as they transition from adolescents to adulthood. We get to watch them as they face the first major conflict in their lives. Some recent popular coming of age films include Lady Bird and Call Me By Your Name. Though typically set during high school they sometimes are set post-high school and in college.
It is not uncommon for the topic of coming of age films to trend on twitter with many claiming we have no Black coming of age films. This is incredibly untrue. In fact, I was inspired to create this newsletter because of my frustration of people making that claim. I don’t know why people are convinced that the only coming of age films out there star white protagonist. In fact, the majority of my favorite coming of age films do not feature white characters. Another frustration I have, is that when people do acknowledge that we have coming of age films, they complain that it involves trauma. I do not necessarily think it’s a bad thing if a Black film involves trauma, and I think we do ourselves a disservice to insist that our films do not need it. But that’s a discussion for another day.
To get back on topic, an upcoming coming of age film who’s main character is not white that I’m looking forward to is Marvelous and the Black Hole. It’ll be in theaters on April 22nd. I actually rented this film last year from Sundance and absolutely loved it.
Two years ago, I had finally had enough about the claims of their being no coming of age films for POC so I made a letterbox listing the ones that I could find. There’s currently over 100 films on the list and I’m constantly updating them with ones that I can find.You can find the list here.
Here’s ten that are currently streaming.
Rocks | Sarah Gavron
After her mother goes missing, a teen struggles to care for herself and your young brother without letting anyone know.
Where to watch: Netflix
Goldie | Sam de Jong
Model Slick Woods stars as Goldie, a teen living in a homeless shelter in the Lower East Side neighborhood of NYC who just knows her big break is coming any day.
Where to watch: Vudu
Hala | Minhal Baig
Minhal is a Pakistani American teenager who constantly rebels against her family’s conservative traditions. Things start to fall apart when she starts keeping a secret.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
Hunt for the Wilderpeople | Taika Waititi
Ricky Baker is a juvenile delinquent who many have written off. After going to live with a new foster family, he becomes the subject of a nation wide manhut when he and his foster uncle get lost in the New Zealand bush.
Where to watch: Netflix, Tubi, Pluto TV
The Motel | Michael Kang
Ernest is a 13 year old boy who dreams of being a writer one day. His life changes when he befriends a guest at his family’s motel.
Where to watch: Pluto TV, Tubi, Vudu
Retablo | Alvaro Delgado-Aparicio
Segundo lives an ordinary life in his small Peruvian village learning his family trade but his whole life is turned upside down one day when he learns his father’s secret.
Where to watch: Tubi
We the Animals | Jeremiah Zagar
Manny, Jonah and Joel are three rambunctions brothers growing up in a volatile household. While Manny and Joel grow up to be versions of their, Jonah discovers something in himself that sets him apart.
Where to watch: Netflix
Kuessipan | Myriam Verreault
Mikuan and Shaniss are best friends growing up in an Innu community who’s friendship is put to the test when Mikuan falls in love with a white boy.
Where to watch: Prime
Jinn | Nijla Mu'min
Summer is a normal teenage girl who loves to dance. Her whole life changes when her mother, a popular local meteorologist decides to convert to Islam.
Where to watch: Tubi, Criterion Channel
Driveways | Andrew Ahn
While helping his mother clean out his deceased aunt’s house, Cody ends up befriending the older veteran who lives next door.
Where to watch: Tubi, Peacock, Prime Video
Upcoming Releases 🎥
Beast - 4/14
Paris,13th District - 4/15
Amalgama - 4/15
Spiritwalker - 4/18
The Bad Guys - 4/22
Unplugging - 4/22
Hit the Road - 4/22