EIGHTH GRADE opens a shoebox of emotion - exposing the crippling discomfort that arrives at a time few wish to remember. Bo Burnham's brilliant writing and directing produce wince-inducing insights into adolescence - the horrors of pool parties, indifferent peers and well-meaning parents all the more shame-filled in a world awash in the isolation of social media. The beating heart of the film is embodied by Elsie Fisher, a transcendent talent whose performance opens old wounds while celebrating the triumph of facing one's fears - and being yourself.
