2) Minnie Goetz (Diary of a Teenage Girl)
Diary of a Teenage Girl may not be a blockbuster, but this frank and empowering story of teenage sexuality kicked ass this summer. Central character Minnie is almost too honest at times, revealing the inner workings of her lust for boys her age and even men far older.
While Minnie is more sexually adventurous than your typical protagonist, particularly as she’s sleeping around at the tender age of fifteen, director Marielle Heller never judges Minnie for her actions. The sex she engages in isn’t portrayed as either damaging or dangerous. Rather, Minnie’s interactions develop as an honest exploration of what teenage sexuality really can be like. There are hundreds of movies detailing the horny processes teenage boys go through, yet an equivalent female voice is seldom heard and if it is out there, many immediately judge them for being ‘sluts.’
Diary of a Teenage Girl isn’t out to sensationalize Minnie’s sex life. Every awkward and embarrassing moment is shown in graphic detail, ensuring that her feelings are never trivialised or glamourised in a derogatory way. Minnie may not be a secret agent or possess super powers, but she is by far one of the most empowering women to emerge from this year’s blockbuster season.