This Film is as simple as it can and should be. The situation is becoming more and more common. A teenager, a junior in his high school, discovers little by little he is attracted to men. He has a girl friend who would like the relation to go all the way, but he does not bring it there which makes him start wondering.Then he is thrown into the gay world by accident, the way most things happen in life. His first man is a sweet and maybe slightly weak predator, a senior in his high school, and a colleague at his summer workplace. The young junior falls and the senior goes to college in September. Eric will have to live alone with his recollection, his desire and the demand from his mother and society to have a normal life with a girl friend and all the rest that goes along with it. Maggie will play what she still does not know is a game.Then all that happens is accidental till it becomes a real choice. Later he will run away from a straight party when he is called a queer because he dances in a rather exuberant way. He goes to a gay night club or bar where he meets someone. The next stage later on will be to run after his first male lover and to get it finished physically and emotionally: right through to the end of the physical act and to the final closure of the emotional experience.Then he will try to go back to a normal straight life and have a night with his girl friend, Maggie. But in the morning he will feel no satisfaction, no fulfillment. He will know then lying is no solution and he will move towards telling his mother and then going back to where he finds his full both physical and emotional nourishment.The film is then interesting because it describes the slow change that occurs in Eric with total sympathy and even empathy. Eric is living what practically all human beings have lived or deserve living: the slow awakening of desire and search for satisfaction of that desire, the desire to be appealing to someone else, the desire to answer to the ones who are appealing to him, the desire to feel happy and satisfied when he meets with that mutual appeal which is first of all a strong emotion that becomes a passion. Then the physical act is like natural.This is not typical of gay men, but any man feels that transformation no matter who is the object of the nascent passion. I guess it is also the same thing for women though the film does not insist on the case of the Lesbian friend of Eric's and only shows the deception and frustration of Maggie when she realizes her appeal has been hijacked by Eric.This film insists on the role of the mother that moves from open hostility to acceptance without the know-how required by such a disquieting situation. If the mother accepts her son's choice, she will have to defend him and it when confronted to the dubitative hostility of other parents, not to speak of the open hostility of other teenagers, some school officials, PTA members, church representatives, etc.A good film on the problem and necessity to come out as soon as the appeal starts moving in you, though you need a confident, an accomplice, someone who understands and supports you in that transformation. Coming out is hard.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

I've seen just about every gay movie out there, and 'edge of seventeen' is by far one of my favorites. The one word that best describes it is 'honest'....but it's also nostalgic, funny, wonderfully simple, yet beautifully complex. The viewer can start off enjoying how accurately it captures the mid 80's, especially the excitement and uncertainty that Eric, the main character, is experiencing. Then, as the story unfolds, each new development that Eric deals with as he comes to terms with being gay is so well done, so honest and nontheatrical, that it feels almost like a documentary. The movie's got a huge heart. Don't miss it!!!

Can't relate to Sixteen Candles? or Pretty In Pink? Well, here is your movie. A bit racier than a John Hughes film, but more REAL. No dream hunks (Michael Schoeffling mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm), no grand gestures, and no wacky sidekicks.Sure, the characters are a bit "stereotypical", but remember back to when you first came out, didn't they all seem like stereotypes? Weren't the only people you KNEW were gay the ones that were OBVIOUSLY gay?This movie captures the angst and the uncertainty perfectly. And those of us who were in high school then, we can relate to how hard being labeled the "Queer" was. These kids all do a great job of acting these parts. Awkward girl with a crush on a gay guy, gay guy trying to figure out why he isn't straight, and the cast of other "Misfits" who befriend the gay guy and show him the "ropes". Don't forget the predatory gay men who take advantage, and the Mother who just wants to "understand" and be there for him.If you were ever a teenager coming to terms with who you are, this movie will speak to you. Like they have read your mind. I don't think enough honor has been paid to whomever wrote this movie. I am amazed to see someone hit the nail that directly on the head. Worth the watch for any gay person (especially boys). You are not alone!!

This is my favorite gay themed film of all time. Set it 1984(with an awesome authentic 1980's soundtrack), Eric is enjoying the summer before his senior year in high school(played with perfection by the gorgeous Chris Stafford). His best friend, Maggie, is in love with him, but Eric is changing. He is discovering his desire for guys. This beautifully directed and scripted coming-out film boasts a fabulous cast(including a tender performance by Lea DeLarla), beauitiful acting, and startling reality. Chris Stafford is so amazing and cute and I hope to see him in many more films.