The Perks of Being a Wallflower is about a boy in high school named Charlie who had been recently discharged from a mental health care institution. Charlie writes letters to an “unnamed” friend, who I assume is supposed to be the audience. When he’s talking to his “friend,” he speaks about his highs and lows and the new friends that he has made. This movie is emotionally revealing in various ways. It allows viewers to understand heavy themes and topics in the most honest and mesmerizing ways possible.
The script and writing of this movie are absolutely captivating and capture raw and impactful moments throughout the film. The meaning of this story is something many people can resonate with, which is why I find this movie so beautiful. It provides a sense of warmth and relatability that is important towards individuality as a person. This film has mentions of mental health and trauma. But, it also stresses personal growth, which was portrayed by Logan Lerman as “charlie”.
One of my favorite things about this movie is that viewers get a rather intimate look into the main characters’ way of mind and thought process, which I believe stands out from most movies. The Perks of Being a Wallflower truly embodies the teenage experience. Some teens find it difficult to fit in with their peers and find people they truly connect with.
Some teens think it’s best to blend in with the world and try not to stand out. While these feelings are completely understandable, what’s the worst that can happen? In this film, the main character, Charlie, struggles immensely to make friends. But, eventually he finds a group of people who are just like him. I believe that the number of friends one has doesn’t matter; it’s WHO you surround yourself with that counts, which this movie portrays greatly.
The film explores the journey of healing and self-worth through beautiful literature and cinematography. Teens can side with this movie because it emphasizes the struggles we go through and how we are constantly searching for approval from our friends and family. One quote that stuck with me while watching this film was, “And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.” This truly captures the effect of what moments of happiness and freedom can have on not just teenagers but all people.
I feel like this movie is more than just a coming-of-age film. Through the letters that Charlie writes and through his feelings, powerful topics of adolescence and the complexities of teenage life are portrayed. Just like Charlie, teens today resort to books and music as a refuge. A place to escape from the world for just a moment. This movie alone brought together so many different people with different backgrounds, and I am so glad I got to watch this movie and that it allowed for many people to find themselves. I would say this movie is pure art, and I strongly believe that art has the ability to connect people in unimaginable ways.
I love this so much! One of my favorite movies ever and you captured how I feel about it as well as why it means so much to me so perfectly, so amazing!
i love this smm