Theatrical launch posterDirected byDavid MoretonWritten byTodd Stephens
David MoretonProduced byDavid Moreton
Todd StephensStarring
- Chris Stafford
- Tina Holmes
- Andersen Gabrych
- Stephanie McVay
- Lea DeLaria
CinematographyGina DeGirolamoEdited byTal Ben-DavidMusic byTom Bailey
Luna Pictures
Blue Streak FilmsDistributed byStrand Releasing
Release dates
- June 14, 1998 (New York)
- June eleven, 1999
Running time103 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$1.five millionBox workplace$871,759
Edge of Seventeen is a 1998 coming of age romantic comedy-drama film directed by way of David Moreton, written by Moreton and Todd Stephens, starring Chris Stafford, and co-starring Tina Holmes and Andersen Gabrych.Plot[edit]
Sandusky, Ohio, 1984: Eric Hunter is a Eurythmics-obsessed, musically driven teen coming to phrases with his sexual identity. When Eric and his excellent buddy, Maggie, receive summer time jobs in meals provider on the neighborhood amusement park, they befriend their lesbian manager, Angie, and a gay college pupil named Rod. Sparks fly among the two boys, at the same time as Maggie waits patiently in the wings for Eric's affections. Eric and Rod sooner or later move on a date that ends at a hotel, however then Rod right away heads returned to Ohio State. The stumble upon leaves Eric to have blended emotions, but he is now more positive of his sexuality.
After beginning his senior yr of excessive school, Eric starts offevolved to alternate up his appearance by using letting Maggie dye the pinnacle half of his hair blonde, and sporting edgier and greater effeminate clothes. This increases eyebrows along with his loving parents, however Eric learns that his mom is going to get a element-time job at a neighborhood film multiplex to help ship him to have a look at song in New York. While at a party with Maggie, numerous guys from their school call Eric gay slurs that purpose him to go away. Later that night time, Eric ventures out to the nearby homosexual disco "The Universal", a hopping joint run by way of none other than his old boss, Angie, who tells him now not to worry approximately what everyone else thinks. He dances with a guy who takes him out to his vehicle wherein the guy gives Eric a rim task, however then leaves quickly afterwards. Stung via a meaningless sexual revel in, he calls Rod, who at first appears glad to listen from him, however then tells Eric that he probable should not call him anymore. Eric then goes to Maggie's house wherein he subsequently tells her that he is homosexual. Maggie does no longer seem to be that amazed because she suspected Eric's relationship with Rod, but she comforts him nonetheless.
Eric starts offevolved visiting the bar regularly, in which he feels frequent through Angie and her close circle of buddies. While waiting to satisfy up with Maggie one night, Eric clicks with a local college student named Jonathan. When Maggie sooner or later involves the club, she is heckled by using Angie's buddies for being Eric's "fag hag", and leaves. He follows Maggie, however she is genuinely upset at Eric for formerly main her on. Eric is going lower back to the club to discover Jonathan, most effective to find out that he is already long past. He is going to the Ohio State dorms in hopes of locating him, but comes to a decision to discover Rod alternatively. They go returned to Rod's room where they've sex. Eric is shown to be uncomfortable all through it, and leaves after Rod falls asleep.
When Eric is going domestic, he's ambushed via his mom, Bonnie, approximately his current conduct and appearance, and says that human beings are getting the wrong concept approximately him. Eric leaves, and goes to look Angie. While at her residence, Angie explains to Eric that it is hard to simply accept yourself for who you certainly are, and that he must supply himself some time. He reconciles with Maggie, however fast realizes that it changed into a mistake after sleeping together. Crestfallen at his rejection and his willingness to toy along with her affections, Maggie ends the friendship. After she leaves, Eric's mother confronts him about a couple of fits she found in his garments that have been from the bar. He quickly denies ever going to the Universal, and leaves. When Eric in the end comes domestic, he finds his mother gambling on the piano. He comes out to her; feeling a weight being lifted off his shoulders.
Eric later goes returned to the bar just as Angie starts to sing. The movie ends with Eric and Jonathan reunited as they watch Angie perform. It is loosely implied that once excessive faculty, he's going to burst off to New York City for university and live the lifestyles he wants to live.Cast[edit]
- Chris Stafford as Eric Hunter
- Tina Holmes as Maggie
- Andersen Gabrych as Rod
- Stephanie McVay as Bonnie Hunter
- Lea DeLaria as Angie
- Tony Maietta as Gregg
- Barbie Marie as Frieda
- John Eby as Dad
- Jeff Fryer as Johnathon
- Jason Griffith (uncredited) as High School Party Friend
Production[edit]
While a part of the film became set at Ohio State University, a part of the filming turned into finished at Oberlin College.[1]
Much of the filming occurred in Sandusky, Ohio, with the entertainment park scenes filmed at Sandusky's Cedar Point, the enjoyment park wherein the writer simply labored when he become in excessive school.Release[edit]
The movie premiered on the New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Film Festival in June 1998 and the Sundance Film Festival in January 1999, before getting a limited launch in June 1999.Reception[edit]
Edge of Seventeen currently holds a seventy nine% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes, based totally on 24 critiques with a mean score of 6.6/10.[2]
Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote, “The insecurities and turbulent goals of childhood have hardly ever been portrayed more faithfully on display screen than in Edge of Seventeen the ultra-modern and maximum poignant in a current spate of teenager-age male coming-out-of-the-closet dramas.”[3]Accolades[edit]1998 Outfest
- Won Audience Award
- Outstanding Narrative Feature (David Moreton)
- Grand Jury Award
- Outstanding American Narrative Feature (David Moreton)
- Outstanding Screenwriting (Todd Stephens)
1998 San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
- Won Audience Award
- Best Feature (David Moreton)
Soundtrack[edit]Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack
- "Right through Your Side" – Eurythmics
- "Smalltown Boy" – Bronski Beat
- "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" – A Flock of Seagulls
- "Obsession" – Animotion
- "The Politics of Dancing" – Re-Flex
- "Love Plus One" – Haircut One Hundred
- "Destination Unknown" – Missing Persons
- "So Many Men, So Little Time" – Miquel Brown
- "High Energy" – Evelyn Thomas
- "Mickey" – Toni Basil
- "Why?" – Bronski Beat
- "Modern Love Is Automatic" – A Flock of Seagulls
- "In the Name of Love" – Thompson Twins
- "You're My World" – Cilla Black
- "Blue Skies" – Lea DeLaria
- In popular culture[edit]
- Andersen Gabrych, who portrays Rod, seems as a drugged-out version of the person in Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!, any other movie through Edge writer Todd Stephens.
- Stephanie McVay, who portrays Bonnie Hunter, seems because the same character in "Another Gay Movie", as the mother of Nicco Hunter, another homosexual son. Repeating the scene from this film when Eric comes out to his mother (even carrying a similar costume and hairstyle playing the piano), Nicco proclaims he likes guys. McVay appears at him incredulously and then says, "Well duh!".
- "Edge of Seventeen", the track via Stevie Nicks on which the movie's title is based.
- Edge of Seventeen at IMDb
- Edge of Seventeen at AllMovie
- Edge of Seventeen at Box Office Mojo
- Edge of Seventeen at Rotten Tomatoes
