Watch American Teen

American Teen, directed by Nanette Burstein, is a documentary film that follows the lives of four high school seniors living in a small town in Indiana. This coming-of-age story depicts the struggles, triumphs, and heartaches of teenagers as they navigate through their final year of high school and prepare for life beyond. The film introduces us to Hannah Bailey, an artsy and free-spirited student who dreams of going to California for college but is trapped in a small town. Jake Tusing is a self-proclaimed nerd and alienated loner who spends most of his time playing video games. Megan Krizmanich is a popular and fiercely ambitious student who is determined to attend Notre Dame and become a doctor. Lastly, there's Colin Clemens - the charismatic jock who is struggling to maintain his grades while also trying to get a basketball scholarship.

The film closely follows the lives of these four teenagers over the course of a year as they attend classes, participate in extracurricular activities, and prepare for college applications. Each of them must navigate through the emotional complexities of being a teenager while dealing with familial, social, and academic pressures.

Hannah, who is still getting over a recent breakup, finds solace in her art and music. She is also the subject of rumors and gossip in her school, which makes it hard for her to make friends. Jake, on the other hand, is struggling with loneliness and rejection. He is shown to have a close relationship with his grandfather, who is his only source of emotional support.

Megan is seen as the alpha-girl in her school - popular, confident, and in control. She is constantly juggling between school work, extracurricular activities, and maintaining her social status. Her parents are fiercely involved in her academic pursuits and put immense pressure on her to succeed. Finally, there's Colin - the jock who is struggling to get his grades up to earn a scholarship, which he believes is the only way for him to escape his small town.

Throughout the film, there are moments of incredible vulnerability and honesty from each of the teenagers. We see them laugh, fight, cry, and fail. There are moments of triumph and moments of heartbreak, as they slowly start to realize that their childhood is coming to an end and adulthood is just around the corner.

One of the standout features of American Teen is its stunning cinematography. The film beautifully captures the picturesque town of Warsaw, Indiana, as well as the day-to-day activities of the teenagers. The use of music and slow-motion shots add to the emotional resonance of the film.

Overall, American Teen is a poignant, heartfelt, and insightful look into the lives of modern American teenagers. The film beautifully captures the highs and lows of adolescence and makes us empathize with the struggles of the four teenagers. It's a film that continues to resonate with audiences around the world and is a must-watch for anyone who ever felt lost or alone in their teenage years.

American Teen is a 2008 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 66.