Coming of Age

1. Coming of Age In this film, Michael comes of age. He finds his pathway in life and his future. At the end, he is moving from home and finding his independence and his voice – he is in control of his journey.

2. Michael is shown as being an outsider from the beginning. He is shown as moving forward. • He is shown as being ‘dumb’ – ‘I don’t know’ • He is unsmiling and often looking down. • By the end he has the confidence to look people in the eye and to initiate conversations.

3. The Idea of the Blindside The blindside is a pun – it literally means a football position but it can also refer to things that a person can’t or won’t see. A key theme is about seeing the blindside – seeing what one normally doesn’t see – either deliberately ignoring it because it is too hard to deal with or not seeing it while being too immersed in one’s own life.

4. In the film the director has many visual metaphors for ‘seeing’ (enlightenment) or being blind (in the dark…) • Different characters have different blindsides. • Ignoring or closing one’s eyes to something can be a good thing – Michael shows us this. • Read the handout The idea of the Blindside

5. The importance of love and family How does Michael survive his childhood? What makes him choose to not join the gang?

6. Contrast • Michael with David who did join the gang (along with others) • The leader says that he looks after and protects his family but there is little love (except self love!) • We see the family when Michael returns near the end and beats up the leader. Michael realises who is family is when he protects them.