An exploration of liminal spaces in transitional narratives, beginning with three classic films: 'Stand By Me', 'American Graffiti', and 'The Big Chill'
Thank you, Cole, I really enjoyed this. Stand By Me and American Graffiti are both films that I loved in my teenage years (and still do) and I like this take on them. I find it a weird coincidence that Richard Dreyfus is the one example of four friends in both films who can be seen to have made a successful transition to adulthood, and as a writer no less!
Great article. I’ll read Part 2 next. Interestingly (or not), that the three movies you highlighted, as well as most of the others mentioned as example that I’ve actually seen (To Kill a Mockingbird being a notable exception), were not films I enjoyed. Maybe because Stand By Me and American Graffiti were so male-centric and The Big Chill was too whiny for me? Maybe it was the age I was when I saw them? I’m sitting here trying to think of what coming-of-age movies impacted me, and I’m at a loss. I’ll keep thinking!
Maybe not a coming-of-age movie, but The Deer Hunter came out when I was a senior in HS 78/79. That was the most disturbing film I had seen up until then. It certainly framed my transition to college and a couple of Vietnam vets I’d meet there. Maybe my films were more comedies, like Grease or Animal House (so blows the male-centric angle)?
I think THE DEER HUNTER has coming-of-age film qualities, though it's been about 15 years since I've seen it - and I've only seen it once. I'm not sure I could discuss this one in great detail.
Thank you, Cole, I really enjoyed this. Stand By Me and American Graffiti are both films that I loved in my teenage years (and still do) and I like this take on them. I find it a weird coincidence that Richard Dreyfus is the one example of four friends in both films who can be seen to have made a successful transition to adulthood, and as a writer no less!
That is a weird coincidence, and not a connection I made. Thank you for bringing it to my attention!
Great article. I’ll read Part 2 next. Interestingly (or not), that the three movies you highlighted, as well as most of the others mentioned as example that I’ve actually seen (To Kill a Mockingbird being a notable exception), were not films I enjoyed. Maybe because Stand By Me and American Graffiti were so male-centric and The Big Chill was too whiny for me? Maybe it was the age I was when I saw them? I’m sitting here trying to think of what coming-of-age movies impacted me, and I’m at a loss. I’ll keep thinking!
That's fascinating, that emotional dissonance from most coming-of-age stories...
Maybe not a coming-of-age movie, but The Deer Hunter came out when I was a senior in HS 78/79. That was the most disturbing film I had seen up until then. It certainly framed my transition to college and a couple of Vietnam vets I’d meet there. Maybe my films were more comedies, like Grease or Animal House (so blows the male-centric angle)?
I think THE DEER HUNTER has coming-of-age film qualities, though it's been about 15 years since I've seen it - and I've only seen it once. I'm not sure I could discuss this one in great detail.
The Big Chill was heavily influenced by John Sayles' "The Return of the Secacus Seven."
It was indeed. I've been hoping to get John Sayles as a guest for some time now. We'll see!