All This Panic

All This Panic is an emotion-filled and unscripted picture from the year 2016, directed by Jenny Gage and Tom Betterton. The documentary-style film primarily focuses on the lives of a group of teenage girls as they navigate their way through the complicated, tumultuous years of adolescence in Brooklyn, New York. It stars Dusty Rose Ryan, Delia Cunningham, and Lena M., among other non-professional young actors whose raw and sincere performances lend a sense of authenticity to the narrative.

As presented by Gage's empathetic lens, the movie is a rich tapestry of teenage dreams, hopes, fears, and passions, capturing their ethos with a sense of respect that is quite rare in cinematic offerings today. It encapsulates the poignance and vulnerability of teenage years, describing a transforming period marked by a spectrum of conflicting emotions—joy, distress, love, heartbreak, and a relentless quest for identity.

The film stands out for its brilliantly candid and unstaged approach. All This Panic does not toy with a scripted plot, but rather spotlights two sisters, Ginger and Dusty, and their friends, most notably Lena and Delia, as they face real-life experiences and challenges. The girls' lives intersect, forming a narrative that ranges from simple teenage crushes, school struggles, to more critical concerns such as mental health, family issues, and self-discovery in a transitional period of their lives. It is a film that does not shy away from presenting adolescences in their purest, painful, and beautiful manifestations.

As the camera follows these girls navigating their adolescence, the audience witnesses their transformation from timid girls to independent, mature women. It's a seven-year journey - an investment in revealing the inherent complexities of blossoming young females each as they cross the threshold into womanhood.

The character of Dusty Rose Ryan deserves a special mention as her unparalleled screen presence creates an arresting narrative that runs through the core of the film. Her charismatic yet vulnerable portrayal of adolescence offers viewers an intimate look at her personal battles and eventual triumphs.

Similarly, Delia Cunningham adds depth to the narrative through her raw and heartfelt rendering of Delia's character, laden with layers of struggles, courage, and an infectious spirit. Lena M., through her authentic acting prowess, further amplifies the dimensional depth of adolescent issues represented in All This Panic.

Director Gage's treatment of the subject is commendable. She has not only captured the candid upheavals of teenage years but also given voice to the girls, ultimately revealing a thought-provoking video diary of their transition from girls to young women. She explores their friendships, their fight against systemic bias, their experiences with love and heartbreaks, their anxieties, and their dreams, providing the audience with a multi-dimensional view of the teenagers’ experiences.

Complementing this intimate and frank portrayal of teenage life is the aesthetic quality of the film. The cinematographer, Tom Betterton, beautifully captures the urban streets of Brooklyn, New York, and blends them seamlessly into the narrative fabric of the film. The natural lighting techniques adopted by Betterton lend an ethereal quality to everyday street scenes, bringing a visual resonance that beautifully mirrors the girls' emotional landscape.

In essence, All This Panic is a memorable documenting of the ephemeral domain of adolescence, capturing the fleeting yet deeply powerful spells of change and growth. It's a thoughtful exploration of the dichotomies of teen life, the yearning for independence juxtaposed with the need for safety, the rush of first love and the sting of first heartbreak, and the exhilarating journey from naive childhood to responsible adulthood. It is more than just a film; it is a heartfelt snapshot of the lives of young girls poised on the precipice of womanhood.

All This Panic offers a poignant and respectful tribute to the adolescent female experience, making it a must-watch for those fascinated by the portrayal of real, unmanicured lives, character growth, and the beautifully chaotic world of teenage years.