A trailer has dropped for Sundance favorite “Eighth Grade,” an exploration of adolescence in the age of social media. Thirteen year-old Kayla (Elsie Fisher) wants more confidence and more friends, and she makes notes reminding herself to smile more, speak louder, and stop slouching to reach her goals. She preaches about the importance of “being yourself” on her vlog, but she’s barely recognizable behind all of the filters she’s using.
If you feel blessed to have been spared Instagram and Snapchat during puberty — and the heightened emotions and physical awkwardness that come with it— prepare to cringe your way through the spot. Kayla’s earnestness is almost painful to bear witness to. It’s also beautiful. As refreshing as it is to see Kayla’s acne on-screen, it’s equally so to be introduced to a teen character who actually talks like a teen. “You never know what’s next,” she says. “And that’s what make things exciting, scary, and fun.”
“Eighth Grade” premiered to raves at Sundance in January. Written and directed by Youtuber and comedian Bo Burnham, the pic hits theaters in July.
