Taglines: You’re only young once… is it over yet?
Everyone knows that growing up is hard, and life is no easier for high school junior Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld), who is already at peak awkwardness when her all-star older brother Darian (Blake Jenner) starts dating her best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson). All at once, Nadine feels more alone than ever, until the unexpected friendship of a thoughtful boy (Hayden Szeto) gives her a glimmer of hope that things just might not be so terrible after all.
The Edge of Seventeen is a 2016 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. The film stars Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, Kyra Sedgwick, and Haley Lu Richardson. Principal photography began on October 21, 2015, in Vancouver and ended on December 3, 2015.
The film premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival on September 16, 2016, and was theatrically released on November 18, 2016, by STXfilms. It received positive reviews, with Steinfeld’s performance being critically lauded.
The Edge of Seventeen grossed $14.4 million in the United States and Canada and $4.4 million in other territories for a total of $18.8 million, against a production budget of $9 million. In North America, the film was released alongside the openings of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Bleed for This, as well as the wide expansions of Moonlight and Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, and was initially expected to gross around $8 million from 1,900 theaters. However, after grossing $1.8 million on its first day, weekend projections were lowered to $4–5 million; it ended up opening with $4.8 million, finishing number seven at the box office.
About the Story
In October 2015, Nadine Franklin (Hailee Steinfeld), a high school junior in the suburbs of Portland, confides to her school teacher Mr. Bruner (Woody Harrelson) that she plans to commit suicide. Her threats and his responses illustrate their unique, bantering relationship.
Nadine narrates her life so far: By age seven, differences between Nadine and her more popular older brother Darian (Blake Jenner) are already obvious. Nadine has a tempestuous relationship with her overly dramatic and image conscious mother Mona (Kyra Sedgwick) who seems to favor her brother, while Nadine’s father, Tom (Eric Keenleyside) is the only immediate member she feels close to. At age 13, Nadine is buoyed by her relationships with her best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson) and her father. Nadine’s father suffers a fatal heart attack while driving. As a result of her father’s death, Nadine’s life turns upside down. Up to the time Nadine is 17, Krista was the only “good part” of her life.
One night at home, Nadine and Krista get drunk, while Darian throws a pool party. Nadine falls asleep and wakes up to find Krista in bed with Darian who is naked. Krista tries to fix things, but Nadine is tormented about her best friend being with her brother. Krista and Darian think to break it off, but he ends up asking her to be his girlfriend. Nadine feels desperately alone and resorts to her classmate Erwin Kim (Hayden Szeto), who has a crush on her. She discovers that, although he is awkward, he has a great sense of humor and is kind. Nadine, however, is attracted to older student Nick Mossman (Alexander Calvert), whom she has only met once.
Later, Darian invites Krista to a house party, who insists Nadine join them. When they arrive, Krista is introduced to other students, who invite Krista and Darian to play beer pong, leaving Nadine to her own devices. After several failed attempts at talking to others at the party, Nadine goes outside and sits on a porch bench with another partygoer, who remarks how inferior Nadine seems compared to her popular, athletic brother. This conversation drives Nadine to leave the party without Krista or Darian. Nadine calls Erwin and asks him if he’d like to go with her to the amusement park. There he tries to kiss her but it turns into a comedy of awkwardness. At the end of the night Nadine tells him he’s a great guy.
The Edge of Seventeen
Directed by: Kelly Fremon Craig
Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Haley Lu Richardson, Blake Jenner, Kyra Sedgwick, Woody Harrelson, Hayden Szeto, Alexander Calvert, Nesta Cooper, Lina Renna, Ava Grace Cooper
Screenplay by: Kelly Fremon Craig
Production Design by: William Arnold
Cinematography by: Doug Emmett
Film Editing by: Tracey Wadmore-Smith
Costume Design by: Carla Hetland
Set Decoration by: Ide Foyle, Leesa Hanna
Art Direction by: John Alvarez
Music by: Atli Örvarsson
MPAA Rating: R for sexual content, language and some drinking – all involving teens.
Studio: STX Entertainment
Release Date: November 18, 2016
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