EIGHTH GRADE (15)
AWARD-WINNING stand-up comedian Bo Burnham eloquently captures the anguish and insecurity of the so-called wonder years in his heartfelt and exquisite debut feature.
Beautiful-yet-awkward 13-year-old Kayla Day (Elsie Fisher), is in the final stretch of solitude at Miles Grove Middle School.
She stands awkwardly on
the precipice of a more formidable challenge – high school – without any emotional support except for her father (Josh Hamilton), whose faltering attempts to connect with his selfconscious daughter are thwarted by the pings of social media.
Unexpectedly, Kayla receives an invitation to a pool party thrown by classmate Kennedy Graves (Catherine Oliviere).
Kennedy only extended an invitation under parental duress but Kayla attends, hoping to bump into her unrequited crush, Aiden (Luke Prael). She is oblivious to attention from Kennedy’s cousin Gabe (Jake Ryan).
Soon after, Kayla meets her high school mentor Olivia (Emily Robinson), who introduces the eighth grader to a coterie of older friends, including Riley (Daniel Zolghadri).
He initiates an excruciating game of truth and dare that compels Kayla to heed her own words of wisdom: “Be yourself and don’t worry what other people think.”
Eighth Grade comes top of the class in every respect.