How can a person know everything at 18, but nothing at 22?
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Stepping into the real world and leaving the bubble of youth can be jarring, to say the least. The jump from being a student to a full-on adult can leave even the best of us lost among the chaos and the cacophony of the world out there, leaving us little time to figure out who we really want to be, or what we really want to do. Believe me, once you leave the security of being in school, chances are you will find yourself questioning what it is you are doing and whether it is worth doing at all.
In these trying times, all we want to do is seek guidance. Whether it is from the older, more well-rounded adults in our lives or from characters in movies who will offer us solace and make us feel seen, don’t be afraid to take a breather and slow down. Sometimes all we need are comforting words and validation that we are doing just fine.
If you are in your 20s and feeling lost, here are some movies that may help you find yourself.
THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD (2021)
If you have ever felt like, well, the worst person in the world, this movie’s for you. You may even see yourself in the main character, Julie (Renate Reinsve.) Now in her late 20s, Julie still has yet to find her true passion. She has studied psychology, and photography, worked at a bookstore, and even begun writing. Currently in a relationship with a man 15 years older, Julie begins to question her path in life.
Directed by Joachim Trier, this Norwegian film will have every 20-something out there breathe a sigh of relief. Many of us have changed courses, careers, doubted the people in our lives, and it leaves us with a bitter taste in our tongues, unsure where our decisions will lead us. This movie is a representation of a chaotic period and will give (some) answers to your burning questions.
LITTLE WOMEN (2019)
Can’t believe childhood is over? Grab some popcorn and watch Greta Gerwig’s masterpiece about facing the realities of growing older. Witness four sisters, Jo (Saoirse Ronan), Amy (Florence Pugh), Meg (Emma Watson), and Beth (Eliza Scanlen) find their own paths in life in 19th-century America. Defined by the warmth of their childhoods, the four sisters go on their separate ways as adults, each choosing a different path.
If you haven’t seen it already, watching Gerwig’s star-studded film will feel like eating warm soup and being wrapped in a blanket on a cold day. While Western in nature, this movie can feel close to us as it faces the all-too-Filipino experience of growing up in a big family and having to face many differences in one household, and how it can lead to us taking them for granted once we leave home behind.
ALONE/TOGETHER (2019)
Enter Christine, an art student from the University of the Philippines, and Raf, a science major from the University of Santo Tomas. Doe-eyed and optimistic, the Iska and Thomasian couple plan their futures with each other. That is, until their abrupt breakup. When they meet again five years later, their lives are unrecognizable.
Directed by Antoinette Jadaone, Alone/Together sees how the realities of life after graduation can wreak havoc on even the most idealistic and optimistic people. A cautionary tale on being too afraid to speak up, Christine and Raf’s lives are derailed when one of them enters the workforce and something goes awry. Watch this movie for some harsh reality checks, and a much-needed reminder that it is always okay to ask for help.
FRANCES HA (2012)
Following your dreams can often lead to some rough roads. Frances Ha sees Frances (Greta Gerwig), a 27-year-old woman in New York who struggles as she tries to pursue dancing as a career. Facing a housing dilemma and a fracturing relationship with her best friend Sophie (Mickey Summer), Frances is a spitting image of every 20-something out there who has to sacrifice the quality of their life in pursuit of their dreams.
Directed by Gerwig’s husband Noah Baumbach, this masterpiece will bring color and perspective to those who need it, even with its black-and-white aesthetic.
BAR BOYS (2017)
Bar Boys, directed by Kip Oebanda, tells the story of four friends who want to enter the world of law. Three of them, Christian (Enzo Pineda), Erik (Carlo Aquino), and Toran (Rocco Nacino) pass the law school entrance exam while Joshua (Kian Cipriano) flunks and decides to pursue acting instead.
An odyssey of failure and successes, Bar Boys is a reminder to dreamers out there that the hike to the peak is often treacherous, but the view will be worth it.
COLUMBUS (2017)
Stopping doesn’t mean quitting. Kogonada’s Columbus is a quiet rumination on architecture, life and death, and keeping the journey going despite setbacks. Starring Haley Lu Richardson and John Cho, Columbus will speak to 20-somethings whose journeys have been halted or derailed due to forces out of their control.
Featuring stunning architectural feats in Columbus, Indiana, and thought-provoking conversations, this movie will piece your broken pieces back together, and get you on your feet by its end.
BONUS: NORMAL PEOPLE (2020)
Adapted from Sally Rooney’s book of the same name, Normal People sees Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell (Paul Mescal) attempt to find themselves as they weave in and out of each other’s lives through the years. Though it isn’t a movie, the way it tells its story makes it worthy of this list.
The 12-episode run of this mini-series unfolds the journeys of Marianne and Connell who go from reserved high school students to established college graduates. A lot of people connected to these two characters, especially during their college years, and how complicated it can be to know what it is you truly want and what you deserve. But it tells us that the journey keeps going, and we also keep learning from it.
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