THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL  4.0***  

     Big summer action movies can be thrilling, but if you really want to feel your heart pounding out of your chest, try being a 15-year-old girl for 101 minutes.

Coming-of-age stories told from a girl's perspective can go off in many different directions. But what about a story where a teenage girl explores her sexuality with enthusiasm (just like a boy would), and disaster does not  ensue? Those stories are harder to come by..  "Diary of a Teenage Girl," from first-time writer/director Marielle Heller is one of those stories. It's a refreshing, and a rare take on a  girl coming into her own. Once Minnie (played by Bel Powley, in a major performance) discovers how great sex is, she wants more of it. Her choices are not always smart (she's only 15), her primary partner is wildly inappropriate for her (not to mention illegal). The result is a film that is funny and sad, scary and sweet, disturbing and revealing.

"Diary of a Teenage Girl" starts with Minnie walking through the park with a triumphant smile on her face. She says in voiceover, "I had sex today...Holy shit!" She smiles at strangers around, and the whole world seems beautiful. It's San Francisco in the mid-1970s. The times are loose, the mood is wild. Minnie's mother (Kristen Wiig, in yet another strong performance) is a single mom raising two daughters alone, as she parties, does drugs, and cavorts through a loose relationship with a 35 yr. old Monroe (Alexander Skarsgård, excellent job in a difficult role). Minnie, absorbing the  adult sexuality around her, is curious about sex, and teases Monroe  to take her virginity, which he promptly does. And they do it again, and again, and again as Minnie discovers she likes sex. Meanwhile she details her experiences on audio cassette, forming the narrative voice-over for the film.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl"  is a hugely interesting film featuring brave performances all around, particularly from Powley, a British actress who was 21 at the time of shooting. But she easily passes for fifteen. Her big eyes and pouty lips, combined with a not-quite-svelte figure, plus her confident, playful personality make her a captivating presence on the screen.. She is an amazing actress.

What makes this film so special is the fact that it presents the teenage girl at the centre of its story without judgment. It doesn’t gloss over Minnie’s true feelings about sex ( she likes it… a lot)   and it doesn’t demonise anyone involved, least of all Minnie. Instead, it’s a rare depiction of the truth of a young girl growing up.

If you're at all squeamish about nudity and graphic sexual language and situations, you might think twice about seeing this movie. On the other hand, you'd be missing one of the year's best films.

Rated R for strong sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity, drug use, language and drinking-all involving teens.

Clark