Watch Mortified Nation

Mortified Nation is a 2013 documentary film directed by Michael Mayer that explores the theme of mortification through various personal stories. The documentary is based on the successful stage show, Mortified, and features interviews with people who have shared their embarrassing teenage diaries, poems, and letters on stage. The documentary follows the journey of several individuals who have acted out their teenage angst to audiences across the country. It serves as a mirror that reflects our own most embarrassing moments back at us, making it both relatable and insightful.

The film opens with mortified participants performing their pieces on stage. These performances are interspersed with interviews with the performers that offer insight into their experience of the Mortified show. Many of the performers reveal that they were anxious and nervous about the idea of sharing their teenage memories, but they also recognize the importance of opening up about experiences that they had kept buried for years.

Throughout the movie, the concept of mortification is explored deeply with the aid of the interviewees' personal histories. The performers share pieces of their adolescence that range from heartbreaking to comedic, and they each add a unique perspective to the film. Among those interviewed are a man who discusses his battles with depression, a woman who shares her experience of losing her mother at a young age, and a man who admits that his entire teenage years were spent pretending to be asleep when his friends wanted him to hang out.

Furthermore, the movie showcases variety in the styles of writers that join the stage. While some exhibit pain and grief, others are seemingly bubbly with joy and humorous anecdotes. Regardless, they all acknowledge the moments in their past which caused disquietude in their lives for years. The diversity of these experiences underscores the idea that everyone has experienced mortification at some point in their lives.

Mortified Nation also highlights the cathartic nature of the Mortified experience. Many of the interviewees describe their fear of judgment, but are left feeling a sense of relief once they have shared their stories. This theme of catharsis ties the stories together and shows that sharing these personal experiences can be freeing and therapeutic.

The film also features interviews with show founders David Nadelberg and Neil Katcher, who describe their motivation for starting Mortified. They explain that they wanted to create a space where people could share their stories and connect with others who may have had similar experiences. The founders have also succeeded in building a community of people who bond over their shared mortification.

Overall, Mortified Nation is a relatable and insightful exploration of the theme of mortification. The documentary is well-crafted, utilizing an emotionally resonant soundtrack and intimate interviews to evoke both laughter and tears. Its relatable nature allows people to connect with the interviewees and feel like they, too, have shared in their mortification. The documentary serves as a reminder that we all have moments of teenage angst that we would rather forget, but through them, we can find connection and relief.

In conclusion, while one may initially think that cringy teenage memories are something left in the past, Mortified Nation offers an insight into how they can be revisited for self-growth and entertainment. Directed beautifully, the documentary serves as an ode to the importance of sharing our experiences, in both the pleasant and the mortifying moments. It reminds us that we need not be alone in our embarrassment and encourages us to embrace our adult selves with self-assuredness by acknowledging the stories that make us human.

Mortified Nation is a 2013 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.