Watch Tanner Hall

Tanner Hall is a coming-of-age film about the complex relationships, adolescent struggles, and personal growth of a group of girls attending an all-girls boarding school in New England. The film features a talented young cast, including Rooney Mara, Georgia King, and Brie Larson, and is directed and written by first-time directors Tatiana von Fürstenberg and Francesca Gregorini.

The story focuses on the experiences of Fernanda (Rooney Mara), Kate (Georgia King), Lucasta (Amy Ferguson), and Victoria (Brie Larson) as they navigate the trials and tribulations of adolescence in a rigid and traditional environment. As young girls, they become inseparable friends, spending their days gossiping, dreaming about their idealized futures, and feeling invincible.

As they mature, however, they begin to encounter the complexities of the outside world and face a series of challenges that threaten to break apart their close-knit friendship. Fernanda, the main protagonist, struggles with her parents' divorce, her crumbling identity, and her attraction to her older English teacher, Mr. Middleton (Tom Everett Scott). Kate, the adventurous and rebellious one, begins an affair with a married man, putting her at odds with her mentor and house mother, Miss Gretchen (Amy Sedaris). Lucasta, the wildcard, desperately seeks romantic fulfillment and frequently lashes out at her peers. And Victoria, the poised and beautiful one, harbors a dark secret that threatens to unravel the group's bond.

Throughout the film, the girls explore themes of love, betrayal, sexuality, and self-discovery, all set against the beautiful and oppressive backdrop of their distinguished boarding school. The adults in the film, including the teachers and house mothers, are often portrayed as rigid and uptight, failing to understand or connect with the girls in a meaningful way. The film emphasizes the importance of female friendship, showing how these bonds can transcend time and distance.

One of the most notable aspects of Tanner Hall is its beautifully crafted cinematography, which captures the sensuality and intimacy of the girls' relationships and the stunning natural surroundings of their school. The filmmakers make use of soft, muted colors and natural lighting to create a dreamlike quality that perfectly captures the girls' reveries and fantasies.

Overall, Tanner Hall is a complex and poignant portrayal of female adolescence that manages to be both nostalgic and universal. The characters are flawed and multifaceted, and the film does an excellent job of capturing the messiness and confusion of growing up. Though it is set in a very specific time and place, its themes and emotions are timeless and relatable. The film is a must-watch for fans of coming-of-age stories and features some of today's most talented young actresses in career-defining roles.

Tanner Hall is a 2011 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7 and a MetaScore of 40.