Skip to main content

Deep Dive: Seventeen (1983)

Play Trailer

Film Lens

Seventeen
Seventeen is a 1983 documentary directed by Joel DeMott and Jeff Kreines, focusing on the lives of working-class teenagers in Muncie, Indiana. The film captures the raw experiences of these adolescents as they navigate the complexities of coming of age in a challenging socio-economic environment. It was initially part of the 1982 PBS series Middletown but was not aired, leading to its later recognition as a standalone work. The filmmakers utilized lightweight camera rigs they developed themselves, allowing for an intimate and immediate connection with their subjects. Critics have noted the film's unfiltered portrayal of teenage life, with Vincent Canby of The New York Times describing it as a haunting representation of American life. The film's candid approach and the authenticity of its characters contribute to its lasting impact and critical acclaim, including the Grand Jury Prize Documentary at the 1985 Sundance Film Festival.

Why Watch

  • •See working-class teenage life in Muncie, Indiana.
  • •Meet the filmmakers who created their own camera rigs.
  • •Find out why it won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.

Did You Know

•Seventeen was awarded the Grand Jury Prize Documentary at Sundance in 1985.
•The film was directed by Joel DeMott and Jeff Kreines in 1983.
•It was filmed at Southside High School in Muncie, Indiana.
•Vincent Canby called it 'one of the best and most scarifying reports' on American life.

Perfect For

Teenage lifeWorking class cultureDocumentary enthusiasts