Two films worlds apart tackle complexities of adolescence

The inner workings, motivational forces, and societal circumstances which affect us as we grow up have long been a matter of concern and study. This is perhaps even more true as we attempt to understand the period of adolescence. Now, two very different films take hugely different approaches to the topic.

Daughters is a documentary which focuses on four daughters of inmates incarcerated in a Washington, D.C., jail. In an attempt to help the inmates deal with their situation, particularly when they have completed their sentence and attempt to transition back into society, a group of inmates is shown participating in a dad/daughter dance held in the jail. The film shows how the inmates are prepare through group sharing sessions over several weeks for the event. At the same time, four daughters are shown preparing for the event. The event itself is a tear-provoking testimony to father/daughter relationships. What follows is a challenging meditation on the experience.

The program is clearly aimed at avoiding recidivism among inmates and shows how the event can have a positive outcome for the families involved. This aspect of the event is clearly underscored in the film’s closing section.

The film takes the viewers on an emotional journey as, in a series of revealing interviews, one sees the bonds that tie father to daughter, the impact of separation on their lives, and the need for “in touch” visits to take place if prisons are truly to be places of correction rather than punishment.

Indeed, apart from the truly emotionally compelling aspect of the film, above all, it raises concerns about penal systems in general. As such, it challenges the status quo, as society attempts to navigate the perilous journey between punishment and reformation. It provides not only a memorable and heart-wrenching documentary account, but a worthy starting point of a much-needed conversation about our corrections programs. This film amply repays viewing.

Entirely different in almost every way is Inside Out 2. Now I have to admit that though I am a fan of many Pixar films, I have not seen the first Inside Out film, which, I gather, attempts to show what is going on inside the mind of a young girl, Riley. The sequel follows her journey into adolescence.

The result, as one expects of the production company, is a richly entertaining film. As Riley attempts to contend with such emotions as anxiety, envy, and fear, as they impede her journey toward joy, the viewer is taken on a brilliantly conceived and executed journey in her brain. It is by turns comedic, dramatic, and exciting.

Needless to say, the film is brilliantly executed: the superb result of the work of an enormous company of actors, animators, and musicians, under the direction of Kelsey Mann.

While the story line, conceived by Mann and fellow author Meg LeFauve, offers much that is entertaining and which will doubtless be enjoyed by children, the film is not with some weaknesses which may bother adults.

On a minor level, one wonders, for example, if children will get the joke of an emotion called “Ennui.” On a much more profound level, one may well question whether or not the emotions portrayed are the most concerning for an adolescent girl.

Perhaps it is asking too much that an animated film, aimed largely at young people, should tackle adolescence in a way meaningful to adults as well as children, but I cannot help but recall how the final chapter in the amazing Toy Story saga presented an approach that could be fully meaningful to adults, yet managed to be very accessible to children.

However, despite the fact that Inside Out 2 may not quite be the film it could have been, it remains a worthy and often wonderful addition to the Pixar line-up, So, grandparents and parents, take the kids to see it. It should be a memorable shared experience for all of you.

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