Yo humans! This is just the kind of movie I love. And for this one, I have two reasons to relate to: I can feel it, understand it; Emma Watson is in it.
Crushes are meant to be crushed.
And this is my belief about the crush thing, but man, when it comes for Emma Watson, my belief changes. I mean she is so elegant. Or maybe, I like her from Harry Potter's perspective. In my lifetime, I only had one crush, and by far, this is continuing.
Anyways, time for some formal stuff.
The Story
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, such a deep meaning tho, follows Charlie - our protagonist. He is a quiet and socially awkward high school freshman who is struggling to adjust after a difficult personal loss. His best friend killed himself, and then there is his Aunt's case. He begins the school year mostly alone, observing things because what other option he has, and writing letters about his experiences. However, just like a normal life, things slowly change. There are these two beautiful people Patrick i.e. "Nothing" and Sam "the most beautiful girl." They are bit different from other seniors, but a perfect match for a fresher.
As the plot moves forward, Charlies becomes deeply attached to Sam and develops feelings for her. Well, of course, she is Emma Watson we talking about. Irrespective of her natural charm, she is the one who treats him good. She, too, has a troubled past to deal with. So, both of the main lead understands each other. Patrick - the Nothing - also plays a big role in Charlie's development. Through parties, music, relationships, drugs, alcohol and school life, Charlie experiences new things. And yes, the tunnel is there to play a big role. All these things make him feel real, make him feel like he belongs somewhere.
However, as Charlie gets closer to his friends, the painful parts of his past begin to resurface. Not everyone is Thomas Shelby with his: "Past is not my concern" thing. Memories that he had been surpassing, or I say escaping, gradually return. Forcing him to confront the trauma behind his emotional struggles. The film is all about understanding oneself, accepting the past and moving ahead of life. Because being broken does not mean the end, it is simply a sort of reconstruction.
| Character | Played by |
|---|---|
| Charlie | Logan Lerman |
| Sam | Emma Watson |
| Patrick | Ezra Miller |
Personal Analysis.
As usual this is my favorite part.
The first thing is the name itself, and a single letter - Wallflower.
A wallflower is someone who stays on the sidelines, just like Charlie in our case, watching other people participate in life without necessarily becoming part of it. I am still so amazed by the title, like it completely defines the whole movie in a single word.
And that is why the line “We accept the love we think we deserve” fits the title so well. Charlie's journey is all about learning that he deserves to participate in life, not merely observing it.
"How I am both happy and sad." - Charlie.
Another sentence said by Charlie which expresses the theme: coming-of-age. So, coming of age means the process of growing from adolescence into adulthood. It is not simply getting older, but about growing in every aspect of life through experiences, relationships and everything in-between.
Through Sam and Patrick, Charlies experiences friendship, love, parties, heartbreak, sexuality, loss and freedom. These experiences, somehow, force him to gradually accepts the reality of life. The movie explicitly shows that growing up is not a smooth process; sometimes we have to accept the harsh realities and humbleness. Sometimes? I doubt it dah!
AS Charlies says: “We are infinite.”
The Tunnel.
This tunnel is shown twice: once in the middle; once in the end. And I believe, it really has a deep and metaphorical meaning. The tunnel in both scenarios show the beauty of life. In metaphorical sense, it expresses the growth in life - physically and mentally. As we pass through it, we realise that there is a big whole world to fit. There is no end at any point. All it takes is the courage and need to move that way.
The Music.
Music knows no boundaries. And this music thing really brought everyone closer. Those who shared the same taste really enjoyed everything. And for Charlie, the whole music thing played quite a role. Being a shy person, he really expresses his love indirectly, mostly through music. And Sam being a listener understood his feelings.
"You're the best teacher. I've ever had." Charlie to Mr.Anderson.
This is the best compliment a teacher can get. He, being a teacher, really understood Charlie. He saw the real nature of him; he helped him a lot with his journey.
To Kill a Mocking Bird.
This is not something of analysis. But man, I really envy those who read this masterpiece as part of their course, and that too as a fresher. Because, I read this masterpiece when I was doing my undergraduate. Moreover, it was a personal read, just out of curiosity.
In the end, we all have been through such phases. Just not the exact way, but we all had/have our problems. We try to avoid it, but the best option is to accept thhose feelings, and keep moving ahead. Because, sometimes we are Charlie, standing quietly at the edge and watching everyone else live. Sometimes we are Patrick, hiding our pain behind jokes. And sometimes we are Sam, trying to figure out what we actually deserve.
"Sam, you have such pretty brown eyes." - Charlie.
The eyes see, talk and listen. Charlie listened to the talking eyes of Sam.
| Rating Source | Rating |
|---|---|
| IMDb | 7.9/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 85% |
| Personal Rating | 95/100 |
Peace 🕊️
Rating: 95/100
