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The Myth of the American Sleepover is a Contemplation Not on the Loss of Innocence, but on Hanging on to It

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (10)

MythoftheAmericanSleepover.jpg

One of the best films of SXSW 2010 was David Robert Mitchell’s elegiac nostalgia fever dream, The Myth of the American Sleepover. It’s finally being released to theaters on July 22nd, and do yourself a favor and find it. There have been a lot of great coming of age movies over the years, but Myth more than any other recaptures that adrenalized high you got from sneaking out in the middle of the night in high school, not to do anything dastardly, but to experience what the world is like when the adults are asleep, to steal a kiss, to form a connection with those who barely gave you notice during the day. It’s the middle of the night, the world is upside down, and there’s an epiphany at every corner. The Myth of the American Sleepover resurrects it all for an hour and a half before you wake up and realize you have a job and a kid and a mortgage and you’ll never again be able to experience the magic of brushing hands with a pretty girl you’ve never met. It’s all downhill from there, folks. But at least, The Myth of the American Sleepover reminds you that you’re still capable of feeling a tingling but diluted version of that.

It’s an outstanding movie, and it will bust your heart open.









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Comments

I don't know, man, it looks pretentious as shit. And not that every film has to reflect my experiences growing up and transitioning into an adult, but this story doesn't seem as universal as you think. I could be wrong, though.

"...but to experience what the world is like when the adults are asleep, to steal a kiss, to form a connection with those who barely gave you notice during the day. It’s the middle of the night, the world is upside down, and there’s an epiphany at every corner.

That's my life right now, and I'm pushing 30. Maybe I should try and catch this film though.

Posted by: Rest In Peace at July 6, 2011 9:55 AM

The Myth of the American Fingerprint

Might wanna fix that! :-)


Thanks! -- DR

Posted by: KatSings at July 6, 2011 9:56 AM

Damn, this looks awesome.

Now if only I lived in NY or LA... Guess I'll be seeing this on Netflix in like a year

Posted by: THRILLHO at July 6, 2011 10:04 AM

This is some painfully precious shit right here. The kind that makes older people think they remember what it was like to be a teenager, but really they just wish it had been like that.

Ugh. I feel icky having watched that.

Posted by: AM at July 6, 2011 10:55 AM

To paraphrase/plagiarize Bill Watterson, anyone who is nostalgic about their childhood obviously never had one.

Posted by: Blake Shrapnel at July 6, 2011 2:08 PM

I love this kind of shit.

Off to save in my Netflix queue until it magically pops up NEXT summer.

Posted by: grace b at July 6, 2011 2:13 PM

Are they in high school or college or what?

Posted by: Snuggiepants at July 6, 2011 2:31 PM

What kind of life must you have had, where you can look back on it it with NOSTALGIA.

Posted by: AmbroseKalifornia at July 6, 2011 2:35 PM

Yup. Yup.

I'm going to have to agree with Rest In Peace. I never had that in my youth. Never had a summer love. Didn't sneak out of the house to steal a kiss. Nothing like that. I'm also pushing 30, unmarried, without kids. So I still understand what it's like to get butterflies from a kiss and to go out late with reckless abandon. Although now, you know, I can drive. And most of the things to do are no longer illegal for someone my age.

A film like this, while I would likely enjoy it, would probably also piss me off. Like college films where everyone is going to huge parties all the time and sorority girls run around in lingerie. I never had that experience either.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at July 6, 2011 2:43 PM

"And most of the things to do are no longer illegal for someone my age."
-DeistBrawler

Really? Only most? Do tell.

Also,


"The Myth of the American Sleepover resurrects it all for an hour and a half before you wake up and realize you have a job and a kid and a mortgage". -Dustin

Ha ha. I never had stupid kids or a stupid mortgage. I win. Where's my magic night-time?

Posted by: John G. at July 6, 2011 11:01 PM