MOVIE | A new milestone in youth cinema, 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'
MOVIE | The Hottest Cast Assembling the Next Generation of Hollywood
The Perks of Being a Wallflower: A New Monument to Coming-of-Age Cinema
Hailed as the next "Catcher in the Rye," this coming-of-age novel, which became a social phenomenon, is finally adapted into a film. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," a gem of a growth story that gently yet honestly depicts the joys and setbacks of youth, will premiere on Friday, November 22nd.
Text by KUROMIYA Yuzu
"I met you, I laughed, I loved, and I learned pain."
The novel "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" vividly captures those sweet and bitter days of youth, when simply existing makes your heart race and your heart ache – a feeling everyone can relate to. Published in the United States in 1999, it garnered fervent support from teenagers and sparked a social phenomenon.
Thirteen years later, this story, now a cornerstone of coming-of-age literature, has finally been made into a film. The screenplay and direction were handled by none other than the original author, Stephen Chbosky. He had turned down numerous film adaptation offers, waiting for the right moment to bring it to the world in its most perfect form.
Chbosky's direction not only masterfully translates the novel's world into visuals but also delves deeper into each character, making them even more real and compelling, thus completing a masterpiece of a coming-of-age film.
Charlie, a protagonist who resonates with young people worldwide, is played by Logan Lerman of "Percy Jackson & The Olympians." Sam, Charlie's first love and idol, is portrayed by Emma Watson. The eccentric Patrick is brought to life by the distinctive Ezra Miller, who delivered a sensational performance in "We Need to Talk About Kevin." The raw, authentic performances of these rising stars, who will shape the future of Hollywood, are deeply moving.
"I found friends, and learned to laugh, love, and feel pain."
At 16, Charlie has no friends, let alone a girlfriend. He's always been an outsider, a "wallflower." The first people to acknowledge his existence are the upperclassmen, Sam and Patrick. This sibling pair, who cherish freedom above all else, are outsiders themselves, shining brilliantly from their "special seats" far from the high school hierarchy.
Welcomed as friends by the two, Charlie begins to break free from his isolated world. From exhilarating parties and midnight drives to encounters with soul-stirring music and literature, to friends who offer comfort in sadness and a first love that takes his breath away – his days filled with light are soon cast in shadow by a secret event from Charlie's past.
This is a coming-of-age film that allows us to relive the radiance and poignancy of "that time" through Charlie's journey. Yet, it transcends mere sentimental nostalgia. It is also a film for adults, reflecting on how far we've come since "that time."
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Now Showing Friday, November 22nd
Directed, Written, and Based on the Novel by | Stephen Chbosky
Starring | Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Mae Whitman, Kate Walsh, Dylan McDermott
Distributor | Gaga
2012 / USA / 103 min / Original Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
http://wallflower.gaga.ne.jp
© 2013 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.