【Western Archives】

On Sunday night,Western Archives it was possible that a teen film (an excellent one – many of them are excellent!) could win an Oscar – several Oscars, for that matter. Sadly, Lady Birddidn't take home any of the awards for which it was nominated, but that just adds it to the pantheon of undervalued stories about adolescent women.

Another such film was the 2016 masterpiece The Edge of Seventeen, starring another youthful former Oscar nominee, Hailee Steinfeld. Seventeen was entirely snubbed at the Oscars despite a crackling screenplay, razor-sharp comedy, and Steinfeld's vulnerable, frenzied performance as Nadine – another high schooler just trying to figure things out.

Similarities between Lady Birdand The Edge of Seventeenhave been pointed out since the former released in theaters. Beyond just being about women of the same age, both deal with mother-daughter relationships (Kyra Sedgwick plays Nadine's widowed mother), best friendships (Nadine's BFF starts dating her brother!), and at least one mysterious and alluring fuckboy (Timmy T would have crushed it in Seventeen!).

Lady Birdwas relatable for the restless energy its protagonist feels growing up in an environment she deems unremarkable. Edge of Seventeenhas that, but with the added specificity of Nadine losing her father, a loss which lends the film ubiquitous darkness and informs some surprising levity (if you like your humor like you like your coffee).

Perhaps Seventeendidn't soar like Lady Bird precisely because of that specificity. It's designed to give the biggest laughs from caustic, cringey moments – moments that don't land if you don't share the film's comic sensibility. Woody Harrelson does an excellent job as Nadine's favorite teacher and de facto confidante – it's like the natural evolution of a Haymitch Abernathy who's finally allowed to cuss.

It's worth noting, too, that Lady Bird, for all its brilliance, is pretty white. And while Seventeenis mostly of the same ilk, it makes a quiet, powerful diversity play by casting an Asian love interest. Erwin (Hayden Szeto) is artistic, flirty, and insanely sweet. He's more emotionally mature than either of Lady Bird's boy toys combined (okay, that isn't saying much, but trust us).

What both films do so wonderfully is address the nuance of being a teenager. Yes, Lady Bird and Nadine can both be unbelievably selfish. They both say regrettable things to their mothers and friends, they struggle with image and popularity while masking that they fundamentally don't know who they are – or don't like the answer.

The Edge of Seventeenis available for purchase and rental on major platforms, and it's brilliant. So while we bask in Lady Bird's inimitable talent and legacy, take a moment if you haven't to relish Seventeen for helping pave the way. We promise, it's hella tight.