Being in your 20s is a minefield; some people are married and pregnant, and some are unemployed and living at home. It feels like everyone has their life together and you are struggling to navigate your way through. Turns out, you are not alone. Feeling lost in your 20s is so normal, and these are some films that capture this feeling.
Reality Bites (1994, Ben Stiller)
Directed by Ben Stiller, this film follows a documentary filmmaker, Lelaina (Winona Ryder) and her housemates (Ethan Hawke and Ben Stiller) facing life after graduating college and living life in Houston, Texas.
The characters navigate their way through early adulthood trying to find themselves, battling heartbreak, and unemployment – a tale of life that many of us have to endure.
If you are experiencing post-college/university blues this film ensures you do not feel alone and all experiences are valid.
Bones and All (2022, Luca Guaadagnino)
Putting cannibalism and thirst for blood aside, the themes of feeling outcasted, different and aimless felt by the main characters resonate for those who are still trying to discover who they are.
Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the story follows Maren (Taylor Russel) who runs away from home and enters a journey to find people like her. On her journey, she meets Lee (Timothee Chalamet) and they tackle their differences head-on.
With elements of romance, friendship, self-discovery and so much more, Bone and All is an artistic expression of adulthood.
Frances Ha (2012, Noah Baumbach)
Frances (Greta Gerwig) is a lost 27-year-old, attempting to cling onto her early 20s and college years.
The film captures the fear of not knowing where you’re going in life and struggling to figure it out. The pressure increases for Frances as everyone else seems to have cracked it and have a sense of direction. As a result, she ends up with very self-destructive tendencies whilst trying to salvage her fate.
Shiva Baby (2020, Emma Seligman)
Running into people you do not wish to see typically occurs at most inconvenient of times.
This comedy, directed by Emma Seligman, follows Danielle (Rachel Sennott) who is stunned to see her sugar daddy and ex-girlfriend in the same room as her parents at a Jewish funeral service.
While dealing with an onslaught of questions about grad life, careers, and her love life – ironically, Danielle attempts to work out how she is meant to act in such a peculiar situation.
This film hilariously captures how awkward social settings can become as an adult but having to remain calm while wanting the ground to swallow you whole.
Donnie Darko (2001, Richard Kelly)
Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal), has a very peculiar life. After several major traumatic events, he finds life to be meaningless and the people corrupt. A romance with Gretchen (Jena Malone) was set to put him back on the right path, but his fate was set in stone.
Directed by Richard Kelly, this film perfectly encapsulates how it feels when it feels like an endless black hole; every day is hopeless and bleak.
The Worst Person in the World (2021, Joachim Trier)
This Norwegian rom-com follows a set of years in Julie’s (Renate Reinsve) life. We watch her navigate the world that is her love life and attempt to figure out her career path.
This film is extremely relatable, real, and raw. It is overwhelming to have to make so many major life decisions while trying to figure out what the hell is going on in your personal life.
The Graduate (1967, Mike Nichols)
Freshly graduated, hence the film’s title, Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) has no idea what to do with his life. He is seduced by an older lady, Mrs Robinson (Anne Bancroft).
Bad decisions after bad decisions are made, and it feels like everything is going wrong – but it’s ok, he’s young.
Still grappling with what on earth adulthood is and how to behave is a midfield for all, and Ben is the epitome of this feeling.
