“Adolescence."

“Adolescence” (Netflix) British crime drama. The story centers on a 13-year-old schoolboy who is arrested for the murder of a female classmate. Each of its four episodes was shot in one continuous take, with a lot of close-ups and elongated singular scenes yet never boring or plodding. Lead actor Stephen Graham, who plays the teenager's father, is also the co-creator and co-writer of the show. 

       The series is a must-see. It touches me for its poignant family realism or parents/children relationship that has always been complex as the kids evolve or start to grow. That complexity deepens amidst today’s technology’s impact on the young. Meanwhile, “Adolescence” projects issues around “manosphere,” “incel,” and those controversies ignited by influencer Andrew Tate, which are not my concerns, however. 

       You may google those words and Mr Tate but, I feel, those only muddle or confuse the deeper issue, and bring the conversation to the man/woman argument instead of exploring and navigating what's really “ailing” our teenagers. Certainly, it’s more than how both see their genders or how we adults tackle the male/female dynamics. I am not saying that new “culture war” fodders are insignificant. But discussion loiters beyond gathered facts when the discourse goes for the generalized take in how society evolves. 

       As dad Eddie Miller and son Jamie, Stephen Graham and newcomer Owen Cooper deliver powerful performances that plant a dagger in the heart. 🎥👍📽