Eighth Grade (2018), directed by Bo Burnham

This film does not really have a plot; it’s a snapshot of a week in the life of Kayla, who is about to finish the eighth grade. This marks the end of middle school, before moving on to high school. The 13-year-old lives with her overprotective and very patient single dad and is subject to all the highs and lows of early adolescence. She navigates acne, mean girls, a crush on a jock and dealing with potential friends who are too old for her. The week starts slowly as we get to know Kayla in all her teenage awkwardness; her attempts at becoming a YouTube influencer are excruciating to begin with. But it gathers momentum as she finds her feet and demonstrates some hope that the future will be brighter. As painful as it is funny, the slice-of-life style is reminiscent of Linklater’s Boyhood. It rings true in the same way and is, if anything, more moving. Elsie Fisher is astonishingly good as Kayla.