DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL (2015)

This film was a really lovely surprise for me. I was initially super skeeved out by the whole "teenager having a sexual relationship with her mother's boyfriend" thing but watching it play out on screen, I felt that the film was able to tackle a really unhealthy dynamic in an honest way without exploiting Minnie's character. It's also really refreshing to see a filmmaker willing to start a dialogue about the fact that sex isn't always healthy or enjoyable... maybe "refreshing" isn't the right word but it was so interesting to see someone tackle the uncomfortable areas of sexuality in today's environment of sex positivity. 

ALSO like, the clothes. The costumes hit that sweet spot of being recognizably authentic to the time period without screaming THIS IS A COSTUME FROM THE 70s!! I've talked about that before and that kind of subtlety always gives an edge to a film. Diary of a Teenage Girl is a really beautiful film - there's a dreamy, film-like aesthetic that complement Minnie's character journal perfectly. 

There's a great progression in Minnie's wardrobe as the film progresses. At the beginning, her wardrobe is almost tomboyish - jeans, loose t-shirts and baggy sweaters. I love how well that reflects Minnie's personality - a young, artistically-inclined girl who's also very insecure. 

Gradually, as she begins to explore her sexuality, she starts to gain a bit of confidence. Here she's still very girlish but a bit more playful and willing to experiment.

I debated how much of Kimmie's wardrobe I wanted to include (clearly it ended up being none!) But I just love this screenshot. The colors!!! 

Even more experimenting, with colors and textures. Also, she's beginning to show a bit more skin and more form-fitting clothing. 

The peak - she's being explicitly sexual in a very rebellious/punkish (and obvious - but she is a teenager so we'll give her a pass). I'm not a huge makeup person but I am a fan of films using a character dramatically applying eyeliner as an Armor Against The World.

Hi Kimmie! And Kimmie's friend who's name I forgot and also doesn't have a large enough role to be in the wikipedia article! I'm obsessed with this coat.

SO PUNK. Also - interesting progression from the middle, as the film continues Minnie begins to wear more and more layers, culminating in her fantastic shearling jacket, which to me serves as a visual representation of her withdrawing and shielding herself as her relationship with Monroe, her mother, Kimmie, etc. begin to implode around her. 

And here we are in the final scene - she's come into her own as a young woman with her own point of view.