by Andrea Crowley-Hughes

I saw “Lady Bird” on New Year’s Day, and left the theater with the giddiness of having just seen something that felt like it was specifically made, with love, for me. I loved everything about it – from Lady Bird’s (Saoirse Ronan’s) firm handshakes, biting comebacks and fierce, if awkwardly claimed, individuality, to her monther’s (Laurie Metcalf’s) careworn voice and the way her best friend (Beanie Feldstein) seemed uncannily like girls I had actually known in high school.

That this film felt so home-like to many movie-going women felt a kinship makes sense – writer and director Greta Gerwig was a member of the same generation as her heroine, and a large part of her audience. She made sure to include flourishes that only a ‘90s kid who went to high school in the early aughts (and is perhaps also a survivor of Catholic school) could catch and fully appreciate. The cathartic moment to Dave Matthews’ “Crash Into You” alone is enough to make us squeal and half-weep with recognition.

Gerwig’s cinematic gift also reminded me just how much I love coming of age stories that center women. Besides being set during an era that was one of change in my own life, the plot also trades on “the eternally renewable cycle of senior year: homecoming and prom; math tests and school plays; the agonizing stages of the “admissions process.” In a good coming-of-age story, you can situate yourself among all the bustle and change that works to shape the main character into a truer, wiser version of themselves. Familiar settings and captivating characters work to make this possible. I find these types of visual stories memorable, re-watchable, and in short, faves. Here are a few movies and TV shows that capture the “coming of age” spirit and that I wholeheartedly recommend.

An Education (2009)

In “An Education,” we first meet Carey Mulligan’s character Jenny when she dreams of studying English at Oxford and learning “lots about lots,” but she’s also very sheltered and her true dream is to go out and experience the world – with all its glitter, culture, and messiness. Her energies are unexpectedly drawn into a whirlwind of romance, secrecy and experiences that were beyond her wildest dreams (and comfort zone). The conclusion is achingly familiar to anyone who dove into experiences without expecting the consequences and wound up feeling “old. But not very wise,” as she confesses to a teacher who tenderly helps her put things back together. The chemistry between Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard, an exploration of class in London and dazzling visuals make this film a treat, but the sequence of events seen through the eyes of a young woman going through some of her first adventures and mistakes make it unforgettable.

Hello, My Name is Doris (2015)

I view “Hello, My Name is Doris” as a coming-of-age film about a woman who is technically “of age.” We meet Doris (Sally Field) in the home of her elderly mother, who she cared for until her death, surrounded by artifacts of an old life, prickly, but not afraid to rock a quirky outfit. The plot centers around Doris’ attempts to catch the attention of a charming younger coworker (Max Greenfield), but we also see her embracing life, perhaps for the first time, taking the ferry across the water to dance at an electro-pop concert, and to feel connection.

Even as realities get in the way of her fantasy, we see her reclaiming a life she never had, a hopeful, if painful, process that is still unfolding as the elevator doors close at the movie’s end.

Grown·ish (2018)

Yara Shahidi, the tour de force behind the character of Zoey Johnson on Kenya Barris’ sitcom “Black·ish,” is off to college in “Grown·ish,” a Freeform series available on Hulu. The show is a binge-able delight: we watch Zoey navigate college in the age of social media, “U Up?” texts, casual drug use and glamorous unpaid internships. She narrates her story with a base level of confidence in herself and her identity (much like her father, Dre narrates Black·ish), and even when situations get rocky, her friends have her back. Shahidi, passionate about social justice and black representation in media, is making sure the media’s image of today’s college student is not monochromatic. (Pro-tip: watch Dear White People after finishing this. You’re welcome.)

What coming of age stories (whether on screen, stage or book) have you enjoyed? Let us know in the comments!

Andrea Crowley-Hughes is a Refresh co-editor, former print journalist and Digital Communications Manager for Journalism and Women Symposium. She graduated from The New School Media Studies program in 2016. Check out her social media and design work on andreachout.com, and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.