Page 2 February 1, 2018
Film Review
The Miseducation of Cameron Post Wins
Top Honors at Sundance Film Festival
By Morgan Rojas for www.cinemacy.
com
There are so many good things to say about
The Miseducation of Cameron Post, the second
feature film from director Desiree Akhavan and
the winner of the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury
Prize, Sundance Film Festival’s highest honor.
Adapted from Emily Danforth’s acclaimed
teen novel, Miseducation is the coming-ofage
story of a young teen sent to a religious
camp to “pray the gay away.” Led by Chloë
Grace Moretz, the entire cast brings life to
these characters, mixing heart and humor for
moving performances. What’s more, one of the
most inspiring parts of this production, besides
Moretz’s female-empowering performance, is
the below-the-line hiring -- as Akhavan herself,
along with the film’s cinematographer, editor,
co-writer and music supervisors, compose an
all-female crew.
Cameron Post (Moretz) sits in a bible study
group, silently observing the environment
around her. Having grown up in a Christian
household, it has been said since day one that
there is a very clear right way and wrong
way to live in the eyes of the Lord, which
does not bode well for Cameron being that
she likes girls. When she is caught engaging
in sexual activity with her secret girlfriend
on prom night, Cameron’s life is instantly
turned upside down as she is immediately
sent to God’s Promise, a gay conversion
therapy school run by Reverend Rick (John
Gallagher, Jr.) and Dr. Lydia Marsh (Jennifer
Ehle). This “school” claims to cure “SSA,”
or “Same Sex Attraction” through Christian
teaching.
Luckily, like Cameron, not all of the students
– or disciples, as the school calls them – are
on the same page with the school’s mission.
Cameron quickly finds kinship in rebellious
classmates Jane (Sasha Lane) and Adam
(Forrest Goodluck), who smoke poorly-grown
pot and eye-roll their way through the school’s
stream of hokey activities -- like worksheets
and collage art therapy -- intended to trace
back to events in the students’ lives which
“caused them to be gay.” It’s evident that no
one at God’s Promise wants to be at God’s
Promise, but Cameron and her new friends
rely on each other to get through this process
as relatively unscathed as possible.
Chloë Grace Moretz is subtle yet astounding
in the title role. The authenticity she delivers
as a teen struggling with her sexual identity
proves she was absolutely the perfect casting
choice, and she doesn’t shy away from the
movie’s more demanding scenes of physicality
with other women. Her vulnerability in this
role makes it easy for audiences to see just
how awful this experience is for those who
are forced to partake in it (fortunately, as was
reported at the post-screening Q&A, more
and more states are beginning to outlaw
conversion therapy in growing numbers).
John Gallagher, Jr. as the conflicted Rev.
Rick especially shines in his role. “Rick
eating cereal” was the movie’s scene-stealing
moment. Also, Ehle as the domineering school
leader gives another brilliant performance.
Since the release of her debut feature,
Appropriate Behavior, Akhavan has shown
that the ambitions of her artistry have grown
in the last four years. Back then, it seemed
like a plausible assumption that she would
continue to work in niche hipster fare and
follow in the footsteps of Lena Dunham’s
style of trendy filmmaking. But with this
project, she proves that she has much bigger
aspirations as well as skills. Akhavan has
created a film that is appealing to everyone
and specifically meaningful to the young
LGBTQ community. The Miseducation of
Cameron Post serves as a beacon of light
for anyone struggling with aspects of their
lives and proves that being true to yourself
is the only way to live. •
Finance
Beyond the Diploma:
Helping Teens Forge Their Futures
(BPT) - What’s the key to optimism? From a
career standpoint, it’s having a vision where you
see yourself climbing and thriving, and you know
there will be a place in the world for your skills
and knowledge.
Unfortunately, there are many teens and young
people who have a much bleaker vision of their
futures. Ask them where they see themselves in
five years, and they may shrug, draw a blank or
get that tight feeling in their stomachs.
It’s more prevalent than you may think.
Approximately 5 million young people between
the ages of 16 and 24 - or one out of seven -
are not enrolled in school and are unemployed,
according to the Social Science Research Council’s
Measure of America report.
Within this problem, though, is an opportunity
for these youth. The U.S. has a record 6 million
job openings, even as 6.8 million Americans are
looking for employment.
Two groups have come together to help young
people pursue these in-demand jobs by providing
resources to prepare them for college and their
careers.
Through a $3 million partnership, Boys &
Girls Clubs of America and The Hartford will
help develop the next generation’s workforce by
creating 30 college and career centers in the next
three years. The centers will be built in Boys &
Girls Clubs across the country, reaching 70,000
teens per year.
“This partnership is part of The Hartford’s
commitment to help build successful communities
through targeted philanthropic investment and
employee volunteerism,” said Diane Cantello,
vice president of corporate sustainability at The
Hartford. “We are proud to partner with Boys &
Girls Clubs of America to give teens access to
relevant and inspiring resources as they plan
their futures.”
Learn how to look for a job - and how to
stand out. Whether you’re looking for a part-time
job, or starting to put together your resume,
learn about what hiring managers are looking
for. Spend time revising your application and
resume, and ask trusted adults to help you
fine-tune it. It’s also worthwhile to put your
video camera to use to practice job interviews.
It’s never too early to network. Perhaps
you’ve heard the saying that “the more things
change, the more they stay the same.” While
it’s true that the economy isn’t exactly stable
and technology is rapidly transforming the job
market, the most valuable resource in a job
search is people. Talk to teachers, guidance
counselors, mentors and parents about your
career interests; not only can they provide
feedback on what fields they see as a potential
fit, they can also connect you with people in
those careers for a job shadow or informational
interview.
Volunteer. If you already know what you
want to do, finding a volunteer opportunity is
a great way to get hands-on experience. Or if
you’re not sure yet, volunteering allows you
to try out different things and discover what
you find interesting.
Pursue your passions. Discovering what
you’re passionate about is a lifelong pursuit
that will evolve and change over time; however,
you will spend a significant portion of your
life working, so why not make it as enjoyable
as possible? Think about the things you love
most and areas where you excel, then consider
potential career options that align with those
interests and skills. •
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Chloë Grace Moretz, Forrest Goodluck, and Sasha Lane in The Miseducation of Cameron Post. Courtesy of the Sundance Institute.
Morgan Rojas
“It is the addition of strangeness to beauty that
constitutes the romantic character in art.”
–walter hagen