What We’re Watching: A24 Movies

Greetings from The Paley Center for Media’s Education Department!

Hearst High School Media Interns Takeover!

For the next six weeks, What We’re Watching will be taken over by the Paley Center’s Hearst High School Media Internship cohort!

Each week different interns will share their thoughts on the 2024 media landscape along with personalized recommendations. This week we hear from Olivia Hansen, a rising senior at Notre Dame School of Manhattan, Camila Sosa, a rising senior at Uncommon Collegiate Charter High School, and Henry Serringer, a rising senior at Institute for Collaborative Education. Enjoy this unique educational opportunity to hear directly from young voices about media that impacts them!

As always, if you have any questions, thoughts, or ideas, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at eduny@paleycenter.org.

Happy viewing,
Rebekah Fisk, Director of Education
Carlos Pareja, Manager of Education

‌What We're Watching: A24 Films

A24, an American production and film distribution company formed in 2012, first gained recognition for its 2012 release Spring Breakers. Known for its distinctive, quirky style, A24 doesn't shy away from any genre, it covers all: horror, romance, drama, et cetera. This week, Paley interns are appreciating all A24 has to offer and have chosen a few movies that display A24's very extensive repertoire.

Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Recommended for Grades: 11+
Available on Netflix

An irreverent look at the unique problems of young people today, Bodies Bodies Bodies is a whodunnit following a group of friends staying in a house together. Once one of their friends is “murdered,” a search for the culprit begins. However, cracks start to form in their bond in their journey to find the perpetrator.

This film accurately explains the social struggles of young people, which is why it has been particularly well received by Generation Z. Its campy style of horror comedy, as well as a satire of modern friendship dynamics, is truly unique and thought-provoking, especially shining a light on young people’s heavily individualistic tendencies, while simultaneously vowing to fight the systems of privilege they benefit from. This hypocrisy reveals the deep flaws of the characters you are meant to love and introduces multiple layers to this thriller. This introspective look at Gen Z life, accompanied by a thrilling murder mystery, as well as a brilliant original song by Charli XCX called “Hot Girl,” all have earned Bodies, Bodies, Bodies a place on this week’s What We’re Watching list.

Waves (2019)

Recommended for Grades: 11+
Available on Amazon Prime

The 2019 movie Waves, directed by Trey Edward Shults, tells the story of a suburban African American family living in South Florida. The film takes us through a coping journey after extreme tragedies alter the family dynamic. Waves dives into complex family relationships within themes of love, loss, forgiveness, and redemption. True to its focus on a coming-of-age teenage story, the film produces a raw depiction of adolescent issues such as toxic relationships and family pressure.

Uniquely, the film is split into two distinct parts that focus on the perspectives of two different family members. The movie starts following Tyler, a wrestler at his high school, who gets injured during a match. Despite being injured, Tyler’s dad pressures him to keep pushing forward with wrestling, which worsens his mental and physical state. We are also introduced to his girlfriend, Alexis, and watch their relationship escalate as their issues intensify. As Tyler’s mental state worsens, a tragic event occurs which transitions us into the perspective of his younger sister, Emily. During the second half of the film, we see Emily fall into a relationship of her own and watch as she finds herself while also dealing with her family issues.

Shults’s distinctive and euphoric cinematography style helps to capture every emotion we are meant to feel and makes Waves fit in with the typical A24 vibe. Perhaps more emotional is Waves’ soundtrack; the use of Frank Ocean’s Blonde album, SZA’s CTRL album, and H.E.R.’s self-titled album is perfectly placed to relate to a teenage and young adult target audience while also following teenage characters throughout the movie.

The Bling Ring (2013)

Recommended for Grades: 11+
Available on Max

The Bling Ring, a 2013 film directed by Sofia Coppola, tells the story of a string of real life burglaries from 2008 and 2009. These burglaries weren’t just any regular headline on the weekly news, the victims were some of the most famous people in the entertainment industry such as Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, and Orlando Bloom. In the film, the infamous bunch, known as “The Bling Ring,” discovered that with the power of the internet, they could find the addresses of the rich and famous. By breaking into these celebrities' homes, they not only collected the material items that they envied but also got to live out their fantasy of luxury and recognition. Despite their initial success, the group becomes increasingly reckless, and later they are confronted with consequences of their actions.

The film shows themes of celebrity obsession and materialism and offers a fashionable critique of our media culture that places excessive value on fame and wealth. The film leaves viewers reflecting on the influence of celebrity culture and the consequences of living in a society obsessed with luxury and fame.

Sofia Coppola's simplistic style shines brightly through the dramatic retelling of the crime that shook Hollywood. The film dramatizes these events while providing a critique of contemporary celebrity culture.

It can be considered a cult classic of modern cinema and a look at A24’s range.

Additional Recommendations

Watch

Aftersun (2022)

Eighth Grade (2018)

Moonlight (2016)

Past Lives (2023)

Spring Breakers (2012)
The Lobster (2015)

We hope you enjoy,

Olivia, Camila, and Henry

Photos—Bodies Bodies Bodies, Waves, and The Bling Ring: A24