One Good Movie - Surrender

Hi friend,

Three friends have children entering seventh grade in August. They have me thinking about adolescence.

I switched schools in seventh grade. My school daze went from the cuddly hippie comforts of Montessori to the harsher gen pop of Clarence Olson Junior High.

It wasn’t fun, but it wasn’t Class of 1984. There were hilarious ex-hippie teachers, and I made two lifelong friends.

Cinema has a long history of teensploitation flicks.

Young people rejecting the square rules of adults makes for compelling, inexpensive movies.

Often the stories over explain or provide a moral lesson.

That’s not adolescence. The years are for making mistakes, rejecting adult authority, and listening to that one art teacher who seemed more interested in helping you be yourself than conform to recommended guidelines.

For some it’s violence and drugs. If you’re lucky, it’s riding your bike around and exploring areas ignored by adults.

Movies that present kids as human beings are rare. So it’s a treat to share:

Over the Edge

A story about a planned suburban community where the very design neglects the children.

Featuring a contemporary soundtrack of now classics.

From the director of Truck Turner, and featuring Matt Dillon’s first screen role.

Based on a true story.

95 minutes.

-Guy