10,000 Saints (2015)

Introduction
"10,000 Saints" is a function movie from 2015, composed and directed by American filmmakers Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini. The movie is a cinematic adaptation of Eleanor Henderson's novel of the same name. It is a coming-of-age drama that follows the story of a boy navigating his way through life, set versus the backdrop of the 1980s in New York City. Noted for its distinct depiction of the hardcore punk scene and its expedition of family dynamics, 10,000 Saints stars Ethan Hawke, Asa Butterfield, Emile Hirsch, and Hailee Steinfeld.

Plot Summary
The story focuses on Jude (Asa Butterfield), a teenager living in Vermont with his mother Harriet (Julianne Nicholson). After his buddy Teddy (Avan Jogia) dies of a drug overdose, Jude transfers to New York City to cope with his separated father Les (Ethan Hawke), a pot-dealing artist.

In the city, Jude discovers himself immersed in a subculture of straight-edge, hardcore punk music, drastically different from his previous life. This neighborhood strongly complies with a drug-free, vegan way of life - a plain contrast to the situations surrounding Teddy's death.

Teddy's half-brother, Johnny (Emile Hirsch), presents Jude to the straight-edge scene. Around this time, Jude finds out that his good friend Eliza (Hailee Steinfeld), who had a crush on Teddy, is pregnant with Teddy's child, substantiated of a one-night encounter before Teddy's death. The story even more deepens as it explores complicated romantic feelings between Jude and Eliza, and their battle to raise the child together.

Styles and Style
The film presents layered themes of relationship, love, family, identity, and the complexities of teenage years. It also takes a look at the lasting effects of loss, guilt, and grief portrayed through the nuanced characters and their encounters.

"10,000 Saints" employs a gritty, realist visual, improving its story's raw emotions and the cultural milieu of the era. Throughout the movie, the hardcore punk scene is clearly illustrated, both visually and auditorily, bringing to life the angst, contumacy, and friendship fundamental in this subculture.

Performances
Asa Butterfield as Jude delivers an efficiency that highlights a lost and vulnerable adolescent attempting to get a sense of self in a progressing landscape of music, culture, and relationships. Ethan Hawke as Les uses a believable representation of a flawed yet empathetic dad figure. Emile Hirsch and Hailee Steinfeld offer commendable performances in their respective roles as well.

Conclusion
"10,000 Saints" is a poignant, gritty, and heartfelt exploration of teenage years, infused with an eager sense of time and place. It traverses a distinct cultural landscape while addressing universal themes of growing up, familial bonds, and dealing with life's unanticipated turns. Despite its somewhat grim setting and narrative, the movie has a certain beauty, attributed to the complicated character interactions and the compelling performances by the lead cast.

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