The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
The precursor to Gen Z filmmaking.
Presentation:
It is of my belief that this film marks the point that enabled Gen Z style narrative and dialogue. There are many coming of age tales that speak to audiences on a personal level, but its in 2012 where the success of this film made me feel this particular cultural shift. This film was trendier and more specific to the zeitgeist of not fitting in a culture of abundance for the idealistic dreamers. Logan Lerman indeed portrays a passive wallflower with trauma that we attempt to live vicariously through, but it’s the other characters particularly Emma Watson that gives us a reason to keep watching.
Conclusion:
This film was definitely onto something in 2012, but it is now that I can see clearly it captures a lot of what the today’s social media generation idolizes. An understanding society, self-acceptance, spiritual fulfillment and emotional belonging though a liberating adventure are all the thematic mantras on Tik Tok today. This isn’t a bad film, but it’s marketed at a specific ideology, which I don’t think makes for long term meaningful filmmaking with derivatives like Nothing, Except Everything. But it does promote a vibe that many do feel, the void of fulfillment in a modern society, albeit a much shallower version of contemporary existentialism.
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Recommendations
Mood piece for romantics of Taipei cinema.