Review of Puberty Blues (1981) by Glenn C — 05 Sep 2012

With the new tv adaptation of Puberty Blues about to air there has been a sudden resurgence of interest in the original 1981 film by Bruce Beresford. Our daughter wanted to see it and tonight we sat down and watched it together.

I'd forgotten how great it was. The film takes place in Cronulla and tells the story of Debbie, a teenage girl who desperately wants to be part of a popular mob of surfers, as a matter of distinction above anything else.

In winning their approval she is faced with a whole lot of difficulties that the average Aussie teen experiences... drinking, smoking, drugs, sex, pregnancy and even death. For it's time it was a no-holds barred account of teenage life and a realistic one at that.

Teens identified with it and as proven tonight, they still do. The only let down for me was the music. Comprising of Tim Finn's music (mostly Split Enz) the songs are sung by a woman who totally kills the essence of the songs.

Regardless the film has turned into a period piece and I was pleased to know that the upcoming tv adaptation is also set in the early 80s. Good. I am actually looking forward to watching it and I would assume it will be even more faithful to the original book where the girls were actually 13 (not 16) and endure even darker times, such as abortion and gang rape.

Bruce Beresford's 81 Puberty Blues touches on the gang rape but passes it off almost as though it was a rite of passage... that bothered me. Anyhow, still a great coming-of-age movie that teens should see.

Its uniquely Aussie without being ocker. It represents us well, I think.