Inspired by Jon Savage’s book of the same name and, “dedicated to young people in every generation, who continue to re-imagine the future”, Matt Wolf’s Teenage is a celebration of the revolutionary spirit of youth. Whilst it may not provide many revelations in terms of when and how this notorious breed of ‘the teenager’ came into being, Wolf’s scrapbook in motion, compiled of mostly archival material, does well to re-establish the cult of youth as one of great importance, especially in terms of societal influence.
Though most definitely a historical document, Teenage is nothing like the history lessons snoozed through in many a classroom. A punk aesthetic and Bradford Cox’s (Deerhunter, Atlas Sound) brilliant complimentary soundtrack give life to Wolf’s strangely addictive “living collage”. Images are collected, hoarded and plastered in layers like obsessions pasted over the walls of any teenage bedroom. The material is assembled in a fashion of glorious recklessness, convincingly simplistic in a way that belies the months of endless trawling through of material inevitably required to reach such distillation. The result is a goldmine of footage that is seductive, absorbing, alive. Such deceptive simplicity is indicative of a director with real archival talent.
Wolf’s hunger for his subject is tangible. It comes as no surprise to learn that he declares himself as an ex-teenage activist. Teenage is borne out of a mind that clearly respects the teenage phenomenon, regarding it not only as an inevitable right of passage, but also as one of the most influential factors in the formation of societal futures. Even when subject matter turns dark, when the folly of youth leads to tragedy, there is no finger wagging. The looming figure of the authoritative adult is distinctly, and happily, absent.
Maybe Wolf is nostalgic for his own teen years. Indeed for those of us whom the teen years are now long gone Teenage is deliciously wistful. For those still in the thralls, or for those yet to reach those years, Teenage has the potential to, and seemingly aims to, serve as an inspiration, a rallying call for young people to gather and revel in celebration of this time in their lives.
If there’s one criticism to be made it is that Teenage makes no exploration into contemporary teen culture. This decision is justified by describing the end of the film as, “an end that is a beginning”, a suggestive template for what could follow. Whilst this does make sense, it would be satisfying to see a few images of more recent teenage culture as a solid connector between past and present times. This is a film with a definite liberal political tone, and a greater inclusion of more modern material would enable today’s youth to directly see themselves as part of an ongoing tradition of revolutionary teen spirit, rather than viewing Teenage as a document of history, of distant times.
Not just for the young, Teenage is a film for the young at heart, or just for anyone who has ever been interested in teen culture. Wild, passionate and fizzing with energy it is a welcome defender of the teenage phenomenon, a finger up to the slanderers with their constant rebranding of teens as “yobs”, “youths”, “delinquents”. The teenagers are here to stay, so get used to it.
[Rating:3/5]
