Catherine Hardwicke
Thirteen

Catherine Hardwicke was able to bring together in "Thirteen" the anxieties, hopes, but also the self-destruction typical of the adolescent world. Perhaps due to the autobiographical nature of the work (the film is inspired by events that actually happened to the stepdaughter of the director, who also plays the role of Evie), the fact is that "Thirteen" is an open window on a world that some try to ignore, but whose existence cannot be denied.

Also noteworthy is the performance of the two young actresses: Evan Rachel Wood (who plays Tracy Freeland in the film) and Nikki Reed (in the film, Evie Zamora), already seen in the video by Santana and Steven Tyler, who, thanks to their young age, managed to bring their personal experiences to best bring their characters to life.

Tracy is 13 years old. She's pretty, intelligent, a model student. But perhaps her so perfect and meticulous world is starting to feel constraining. And then there's Evie. Confident, popular at school, with a reputation as terrible as necessary to captivate the young "nerd" and ensnare her in her trap. A dangerous friendship develops between the two, soon dragging Tracy into an endless tunnel. Drugs, alcohol, sex, and self-harm become elements of her daily life, while on the other side is her mother, helplessly watching her daughter fall lower and lower.

The conclusion of the film leaves a bitter taste. And a question: is there a possibility of redemption for Tracy? Perhaps Hardwicke left it open-ended for the viewers to decide their own ending. Because, deep down, we all have been (or still are) adolescents searching for our identity, and putting a definitive "end" wouldn't have been fair on the director's part.

In conclusion, I think "Thirteen" is not just a film. It's a way of being, of living life, typical of many teenagers. It tells how it feels to be thirteen, without the need for censorship or metaphors. Because Tracy could be our neighbor, our best friend, or even us.