Teenage

World Documentary Competition

World Premiere

USA | 80 MINUTES | English, German | English subtitles

TEENAGE

Documentary
The concept of teenagers did not gain widespread recognition until the 20th century, before which childhood and adulthood were two completely discrete phases with nothing in between. In fact, the word “teenager” was not coined until 1945, when two World Wars resulted in thousands of young people being shipped off by adults to fight and die in Europe, and the seeds of a lasting intergenerational conflict were planted. This fascinating documentary illuminates the earliest pioneers of youth culture from this emergent period—from decadent flappers and hipster Swing Kids to brainwashed Nazi Youth and frenzied Sub-Debs—in a visually exciting, historically rigorous and artfully anachronistic piece of work.

Based on a groundbreaking book by the punk author Jon Savage and narrated by actors Jena Malone, Ben Whishaw, Julia Hummer and Jessie Usher, director Matt Wolf’s compelling collage is crafted from archival material, Super-8 recreations and diaries of actual mid-century teenagers, all set to a post-punk contemporary soundtrack. The result is an unconventional pop historical film about the birth of the iconic, eternally cool figure of the teenager.

—Cara Cusumano

CAST & CREDITS

Directed by Matt Wolf

MATT WOLF is a New York-based filmmaker who was named by Filmmaker Magazine as one of the “25 New Faces of Independent Film.” His has directed an award-winning feature documentary, Wild Combination; produced and directed short documentaries for The New York Times, Sundance Channel and New York City Ballet; and was a 2010 Guggenheim Fellow.
Director
Matt Wolf
Screenwriter
Jon Savage, Matt Wolf
Producer
Ben Howe, Kyle Martin
Editor
Joe Beshenkovsky
Executive Producer
Philipp Engelhorn, Michael Raisler, Jason Schwartzman
Composer
Bradford Cox
Co-Producer
Andrew Goldman, Jacqui Edenbrow
Cast
Jena Malone, Ben Whishaw, Julia Hummer, Jessie Usher

CONTACTS

US Sales Contact
Zachary Bright
Preferred Content
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: 323 782 9193 ext. 502
zac@preferredcontent.net
Print Source
Andrew Goldman
Cinereach
New York, 10011
Phone: 212 727 3224
andrew@cinereach.org
Press Contact
Nathaniel Baruch
Topic
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 917 306 9585
nathaniel.baruch@topic.com