The Diary of a Teenage Girl

Movie review by S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
The Diary of a Teenage Girl Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 18+

Bold but flawed film about sexual awakening is very mature.

R 2015 102 minutes
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Parents say

age 17+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 17+

Based on 5 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Diary of a Teenage Girl is '70s-set coming-of-age drama set in San Francisco. Although it's about a 15-year-old girl, it's probably best for the oldest teens and adults due to its extremely mature content. It's very frank about sex, with frequent nudity (especially a teen girl's breasts) and tons of talk about wanting/having/needing sex, as well as references to masturbation, oral sex (once for money), and more. The main character leaves no stone unturned in exploring her burgeoning sexuality (she experiments with many men and also a woman), and a relationship with a thirtysomething man figures heavily in her explorations. There's also tons of swearing (particularly "f--k"), drinking, and drug use (pot, cocaine) by both adults and teens -- in some cases, side by side. While the main character ultimately learns a lot about who she is and what she wants -- and that she doesn't need a man to be happy -- she makes a ton of iffy choices along the way, making her a complicated role model (at best) for younger teens.

Community Reviews

doctora
doctora Adult
December 13, 2022
age 18+

Starts strong then slips...

This film started off super strong and I was here for it! Skarsgard is a standout and the chemistry and the writing feels real on all accounts, but the last third of the film feels like it goes a bit off the rails and the characters unravel in ways that make it difficult to watch. I was not a fan of it, but that is not to say that their choices did not make sense for their characters I just lost interest as it felt like the emotional investment was slipping further and further away from where we started and from my sensibility.
BestPicture1996
BestPicture1996 Adult
September 18, 2019
age 18+

Extremely sex-filled coming of age film has massive heart amidst yuckiness

Let's get this out of the way: no one under the age of 18 should be watching this. While it isn't NC-17 exactly, the hardcore levels of drugs and sex portrayed here is way too much for teens. On the film itself: how was Bel Powley passed up for a Best Actress nomination? She is at once a child, and dangerously mature, confident of her sexuality and completely unaware of her development as a woman. It's a privilege to watch, so much so that great performers like Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skarsgård nearly fall flat in comparison. Paired with delightful animation that doesn't distract but supports the story it's telling, "Diary" is an unpretentious indie that reminds us it's okay to slow down in life, it's okay to not know where you're headed. I look forward to binging more of director Marielle Heller's work!

This title has:

Great messages
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on Phoebe Gloeckner's semi-autobiographical graphic novel, THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL follows the travails of Minnie (Bel Powley), a 15-year-old girl living in San Francisco in 1976. Minnie is passionate about cartooning and sexuality, though not necessarily in that order. After she loses her virginity to Monroe (Alexander Skarsgard), all Minnie seems to be able to think about is sleeping with him, but there are major complications: First, he's dating her mom, Charlotte (Kristen Wiig). And second, he's old enough to be her dad. Thrilled, confused, and mercurial, Minnie proceeds to navigate teenagehood with a lust that knows no bounds -- and no boundaries to enclose her (or, sadly, to help her feel safe).

Is It Any Good?

There's no ignoring the daring that exists in a film that doesn't attempt to judge a 15-year-old for her actions -- or legislate what's right or wrong about a teenage girl exploring her body. That said, why provide this same generosity to her 35-year-old lover, one who's also involved with her mother? In its zeal to maintain a judgment-free zone, The Diary of a Teenage Girl comes across as being either somewhat naive or pandering, neither one of which is a great place to be. But the cast members, notably Powley (who's incredible) and Skarsgard, give themselves over to the experience, unafraid of the film's irreverent (and sometimes quite graphic) explorations of sex.

Still, for a movie about high emotions and deep desires, Diary feels like it's at a bit of a remove. We don't see Minnie struggle too much with her decisions and choices, and yet we're supposed to feel like some insight has been achieved, some epiphany found. It's encouraging when teenager characters are allowed to be vocal about everything they're feeling and exploring, but when those explorations lack a huge dose of sobriety and self-reflection, a story starts to feel hollow. Diary is an important movie in many ways, and possibly even groundbreaking. But perfect? Not quite.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how The Diary of a Teenage Girl handles sex and sexuality. Is Minnie empowered or overwhelmed by her experiences? What does she learn from them? Is her relationship with Monroe truly consensual? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.

  • The movie is about a young woman who openly embraces her sexuality in a confusing time. That makes her relatable, but would you consider her a role model for teens? What about the adults in the film? Are any of them someone you'd look up to?

  • How does the film portray drinking and drug use? Are the extremes easy to look past because the film takes place in the past? How would you feel if it was a contemporary story? What part is most shocking/surprising, and why? Are there realistic consequences?

  • What holds Minnie back from going further down a dangerous path? Why do you think she decides to get herself out of the situation that Tabatha puts her in?

  • How accurate do you think the film is as a reflection of being a teenager in the 1970s? What was different about life then? How was it similar?

Movie Details

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