Cinema is a wonderful thing, you go and see a blockbuster film full of expectations about how great it’s going to be only to come out wondering what all the fuss was about. Or alternatively you go to see a film with little or no expectations only to find that you’ve uncovered a gem.

“The Edge of Seventeen” turns out is in the later category.

Nadine Byrd (Hailee Steinfeld) is a confused 17 year old who feels unloved at home and has only one true friend, fellow loner Krista (Haley Lu Richardson). To make matters worse her older brother (Blake Jenner) is one of the most popular boys in school. Just when Nadine thinks her life can’t get any worse her brother starts dating her best and only friend, Krista. Feeling betrayed by her friend the relationship drives a wedge between the two girls which forces Nadine to turn to the only other two people in the school that she can confide in, one is her sarcastic teacher, Mr Bruner (Woody Harrelson) the other is a classmate (Hayden Szeto) who has a crush on her.

“The Edge of Seventeen” is a simple story that’s been told many times before in films such as “Sixteen Candles” and “The Breakfast Club”, however it is a story that’s lifted above the ordinary thanks to some outstanding performances from a terrific cast.

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