Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater’s Boyhood is a fascinating insight into growing up and family relationships. The film follows a boy named Mason as he progresses from age six to 18 and deals with the typical travails of childhood
and adolescence. Linklater’s ambitious project tracks fictional characters through real time, visiting them once a year, resulting in an intriguing and well-crafted coming-of-age story.

Personal writing suggestion:
The narrative of this film is driven by the experience of the central character over a 12-year period. Make a timeline of your life and consider how you would describe the main events. 

Areas of learning:
Coming-of-age, Film Techniques, Family Relationships

Screening as part of the 2014 Autumn/Winter IFI School’s Programme.