T-Birdus Thoracis

I remember my dad telling me this was a great movie for any teenager to watch. I didn't watch it until I was around 23 but boy do I wish I listened to his advice. This is the finest example of a coming-to-age movie. It starts out with a boy building infatuation towards an older woman and you root for the kid to at least build a platonic relationship with her. The subject of sex is a heavy theme in this movie and given the movie's conflict, it's pretty unethical (and I think illegal at the time) and the movie does an excellent job of having the characters explore it. And boy does it turn in a radically different direction and tone when we get to the climax where our main character and his crush go through tragedy. It pays off excellently but it is not what you might have expected going into this film. It left me with a haunting feeling afterwards. It's well-acted, well-directed, well-shot, and has a deep story which will stay with you for a long time. Great movie.