★★★★☆
Molly Manners makes her feature directorial debut with Extra Geography, a coming-of-age tale that offers a new take on the genre.
Penned by Miriam Battye and based on a short story by Rose Tremain, the film is set in an English boarding school and follows two teenage girls as they grapple with friendships, boys, studying, and growing up.
Battye’s script is witty, well-crafted, and doesn’t play into the typical three-act structure that most coming-of-age films tend to follow.
This is one of the factors that makes it so compelling. The conflict presents itself so early in the film that it’s practically within the opening sequence. At its core is a toxic character trait these two friends share: they must do, like, and experience everything together.
“A coming-of-age tale that offers a new take on the genre.”
This offers an insightful look at the codependency that occurs among teenagers and young adults.
The concept is not only a hilariously accurate depiction of what some friends go through, but it also has this layer of angst that lingers just beneath the surface, capturing that time in one’s life perfectly.
Behind every joke and every scene, there is this hint of rising teenage angst as the girls approach the age typically depicted in coming-of-age comedies.
They are slightly younger than the characters we typically see in these films, adding to the distinctive difference between this film and many others in the genre.
The film captures that period between childhood and young adulthood depicted in The Sleepover, rather than Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, or The Breakfast Club.
“Behind every joke and every scene, there is this hint of rising teenage angst.”
A lot of the more hilarious moments come from the girls’ pure innocence and complete lack of understanding of what it is they’re trying to experience. It offers a reflection of a time in our lives that we don’t often see depicted in such a manner, particularly when the material is geared toward a more mature audience rather than tweens.
Andrew Commis’s cinematography is loose yet intentional, setting the tone for the film. The lack of crispness offers a comfy indie feel, crafting a personalized tone that often gets lost in the crispness of a blockbuster.
This is paired with great performances by Marni Duggan and Galaxie Clear, both making their feature debuts and coming in with a splash.
Their chemistry is fantastic and is one of the driving factors of the film, making their lifelong friendship and desire to do everything together feel real and genuine.
“Their chemistry is fantastic and is one of the driving factors of the film.”
Manners has a clear vision of the film she set out to make, and it shows through the steady pacing and balanced tone right up to the end credits.
She gives us not the ending we have come accustomed to expect, but the one that works best for the narrative.
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