Year: 2000
Country:
UNITED STATES
Run Time:
99 minutes
When EDGE OF SEVENTEEN graced CIFF’s screens in 1999 (CIFF23), Todd Stephens, who wrote the film’s semi-autobiographical screenplay, promised to make a trilogy based upon his experiences as a gay man in Sandusky, Ohio. Now, 22 years later, Stephens has completed the trilogy, with both GYPSY 83 and SWAN SONG. His three films are showing during CIFF45 Streams, but this is the sensitive coming-of-age story that started it all. In mid-1980s Sandusky, a Eurythmics-obsessed teen named Eric and his best friend Maggie accept summer jobs at the local amusement park. It’s here that Eric meets openly queer adults for the first time: his butch manager Angie (Lea DeLaria) and hunky Ohio State University student Rod. After acknowledging his feelings for Rod, Eric is opened to a new world of pleasure, heartbreak, and freedom. Coming out and coming into his own, Eric realizes navigating both a new community and his lifelong relationships will not be easy. EDGE OF SEVENTEEN hits the nervous elation of teenage exploration on the head. This film is a poignant and nostalgic portrait of a kid just figuring things out. — D.O.
*This film is part of a double-feature, showing on the CIFF45 Streams virtual cinema platform with GYPSY 83. To purchase a ticket for both, please visit the GYPSY 83 page.
Director
David Moreton
Producers
David Moreton, Todd Stephens
Screenwriting
Todd Stephens
Cinematography
Gina Degirolamo
Editing
Tal Ben-David
Principal Cast
Chris Stafford, Tina Holmes, Andersen Gabrych, Stephanie McVay, Lea DeLaria
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