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Girlhood (2003)

tomatometer

94

Average Rating: 7.7/10
Reviews Counted: 33
Fresh: 31 | Rotten: 2

An intimate, compassionate look at two teenagers in juvenile hall.

91

Average Rating: 7.5/10
Critic Reviews: 11
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 1

An intimate, compassionate look at two teenagers in juvenile hall.

audience

67

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 693

My Rating

Movie Info

Liz Garbus created this powerful documentary film that tells the story of two teenagers, Shanae and Megan, and their dramatic journeys through the juvenile justice system and back out on to the bleak streets of East Baltimore, Maryland. With unprecedented access to the system and to the complex interior lives of the protagonists, the film provides shocking insight into the world of young women struggling just to survive teenhood.

Unrated, 1 hr. 22 min.

Documentary, Special Interest

May 18, 2004

Wellspring

All Critics (35) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (33) | Rotten (2) | DVD (2)

Like many similar documentaries, this 2002 feature doesn't present easy answers, but by letting the two girls register as individuals, it forces the viewer to care about them when few around them can be bothered.

July 18, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The trajectories of Shanae's and Megan's lives speak volumes for themselves.

February 6, 2004 Full Review Source: Boston Globe | Comment
Boston Globe
Top Critic IconTop Critic

An eye-opening sociological examination that is alternately moving and tedious. Ultimately, however, one can't help but be caught up in the travails of its two memorable subjects.

November 14, 2003 Comment
Hollywood Reporter
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It isn't just difficult to do justice to Shanae and Megan in an average of 44 minutes apiece; as it turns out, it's impossible.

November 13, 2003 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | Comment
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

While it is one part a coming-of-age story and one part a story of girls and mothers, Girlhood is just as much about the attainment of wisdom.

October 31, 2003 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
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It shows a fascination with the criminal justice system, and amazing access to the people caught in its wheels.

October 30, 2003 Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | Comment
Newark Star-Ledger
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Chilling, depressing, yet guardedly optimistic.

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat | Comment
Film Threat

Girlhood thoughtfully questions not just the system itself, but our unfair assumptions about the young people caught within it.

September 8, 2005 Full Review Source: All Movie Guide | Comment
All Movie Guide

To the film's great credit, [director] Garbus evens out her often heavy-hand and we're given the emotional core of two young female criminals in ways often eluded in the movies.

May 13, 2005 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Apollo Guide

..disturbing, yet life affirming portrait ... girlhood is an early stage of life, but the consequences of mistakes upon womanhood and, more significantly, motherhood will ...

July 29, 2004 Full Review Source: Bangitout.com | Comment
Bangitout.com

Deeply affecting in the moment, but I'm not sure that Garbus draws much in the way of larger conclusions.

January 9, 2004 Full Review Source: Entertainment Today | Comment
Entertainment Today

Fascinating and, at times, surprisingly moving.

December 19, 2003 Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | Comment
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Girlhood begins as a document of criminal justice, and ends as a testament to the power of motherhood.

December 19, 2003 Full Review Source: Salt Lake Tribune | Comment
Salt Lake Tribune

Thanks to unprecedented access, acclaimed documentarian Liz Garbus is able to continue her upfront examination of the American criminal justice system.

November 24, 2003 Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | Comment

It may be the least expected happy ending in years.

November 4, 2003 Full Review Source: Premiere Magazine | Comment
Premiere Magazine

Liz Garbus and company have skillfully captured raw emotions, something 'reality TV' almost never does, and Girlhood offers two valuable case studies to its audience, however difficult it may be to watch them.

November 3, 2003 Full Review Source: Film Journal International | Comment
Film Journal International

In the end, the girls' stories are inspiring and heartbreaking, making this sensitively directed film one of the most rewarding of the year.

October 31, 2003 Full Review Source: E! Online | Comment
E! Online
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Girlhood

It was crazy to see how some young people live their lives - acting out and even killing people with no remorse. Very sad.

July 11, 2009
fwilds
Fran Wilds

It's 4:30am. I'm freezing. Man, I could really use some hot porridge right now. Thank goodness there's a Casino nearby :) Eurotrip - A forgettable teen comedy. I only remember that Kristin Kreuk has a cameo. Robin Hood - The Disney animated feature. Wow, this is a huge step back from previous Disney films like Snow

November 23, 2004
The Senhman
Senh Duong

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