'Adolescence', the current audiovisual sensation.

Adolescence is undeniably the current audiovisual sensation. This four-episode Netflix drama begins with 13-year-old Jamie Miller being arrested and accused of murdering a girl of his class. The charges against the youngster compel his family to face the worst nightmare possible.

The episodes have been divided into (1) the arrest of the youngster, (2) the police investigation to determine the cause for the murder, (3) the alleged murderer's fifth session with the psychologist, and (4) the family's day-to-day living thirteen months after the arrest.

All four are remarkable, however I believe the second is less brilliant with the cops going to the school in a somewhat forced and unrealistic circumstance. The episodes are an emotional tour de force that delivers the intended effect.

The episodes are shot fully in a single take, which pulls the plot closer and humanizes the dramatic events depicted. While the technical exercise can appear superfluous or even exhausting at times (when the scheme of 'character crossing paths and the camera following them' is repeated), it generally works coherently, providing a sense of continuity that adds verisimilitude to the overall effect.

Nothing new in cinema history, of course, and even for this same director-actor duo (Philip Barantini-Stephen Graham), who used the same technique in Boiling Point, first in the successful 2019 short film and then in the 2021 92-minute feature film of the same name, where perhaps the excess of forced drama took away some of the work's charm.

It is worth noting the excellent acting by both the key players (Stephen Graham, the police officers, and especially the young protagonist, Owen Cooper) and those with smaller roles (the psychologist, the mother, or the defense attorney). Each character has their moment and makes the most of it.

The series, which looks to be about a murder, forces us to consider the growing divide between adults and young people in today's environment. In teaching, pedagogy, and psychology, methods of communicating with young people have become outmoded. Every day, it becomes more clear.

The most terrifying aspect of Adolescence is that nothing needs to be exaggerated in order to impact and leave an impression on us. It is neither a remote story nor a gloomy fantasy; rather, it is an X-ray of how certain behaviors are formed from childhood, and how violence and hatred can grow accepted until they become part of everyday life. The saddest aspect is that it doesn't appear we're doing much to prevent it...

Regarding the series' less notable parts, we might state that the evidence against the boy is circumstantial. Although it appears that the youngster is guilty, the case against him is not particularly strong because authorities do not have the murder weapon, a confession, or genetic proof. Just a grainy footage of the murder. Any skilled lawyer could defend the case successfully.

Perhaps the position of the defense attorney is not accurately depicted here, or the purpose is to condemn public defenders and, by extension, the legal system, which is unfair to the less fortunate people.

Another issue that has been debated is the overuse of "it's the men's fault, they're all the same". The boy is guilty, violent, and ill. His classmates are all unlikable, unpleasant, and repulsive. The father is also to fault, an exalted man who goes around insulting and threatening people, belittles women, makes questionable decisions, and emits toxic masculinity wherever he goes. The father's father was a guilty abuser... The pattern is perhaps somewhat simplistic and very suitable to please in these times.

In any case, this is a worthwhile series to watch and discuss. A high-quality product that surprises with its depth, craftsmanship, and platform (we all know Netflix has a modest catalog of original productions, and that is being kind).

Biography: The synopsis was extracted from FilmAffinity.