“Eighth Grade”

By Erin Wilson

Complete with uncomfortable pool parties, the desire to fit in, and that unfortunate but distinct brand of early teen style, Bo Burnham’s film “Eighth Grade” presents a painfully accurate snapshot of the awkward and stressful middle school experience. 

The film follows Kayla (Elsie Fisher), a quiet eighth-grader in her last days of middle school as she tries to navigate the complicated emotions of growing up and trying to fit in. After her classmates vote her “Most Quiet,” Kayla tries to become more outgoing but struggles with social anxiety. She expresses herself through motivational videos that she posts online and spends notably long hours scrolling through social media. The film also highlights the relationship development between Kayla and her single father, who struggles to communicate with her. 

Fisher’s acting captures the agony of awkward social interactions, specifically in her confrontations with a boy she has a crush on and with a popular girl in school, Kendall. While attending a pool party that Kendall’s mom invited her to against Kendall’s wishes, Fisher’s expressions, body language, and dialogue perfectly relay the sensation of being somewhere you feel wildly out of place. She locks herself in the bathroom to calm down before walking reluctantly out to the pool while covering her stomach with her arms to express the particular kind of body insecurity middle school girls often endure. 

Hilarious and yet surprisingly poignant, “Eighth Grade” expertly captures the difficulties of a time of life that can be difficult to vocalize.