10 More Obscure Films You Must See
5. Gregorys Girl (dir. Bill Forsyth, 1981) 
Most coming-of-age films are better remembered for the careers they launched rather than their artistic merits. Its difficult to talk about The Last Picture Show, American Graffiti or Stand By Me without focusing on the breakthrough performances of Jeff Bridges, Ron Howard and Kiefer Sutherland respectively. Gregorys Girl never achieved the star quality or reputation of its American counterparts, but for coming-of-age fans, certainly on my side of the pond, its still pretty special. Gregorys Girl follows the trial and tribulations of Gregory Underwood (John Gordon Sinclair), an awkward Scottish teenager with no particular aspirations in life. He falls for Dorothy (Dee Hepburn) when she tries out for the school football team winning a place at his expense and proceeds to do anything to be with her. The film also follows the romantic exploits of his hapless best friends, and his younger sister, who seems wise beyond her years. Gregorys Girl is a touching and welcome antidote to the stereotypes of American comedies of the period, which depicted teenagers as foul-mouthed, sex-mad morons obsessed with bodily fluids. The humour is gentler, the acting more naturalistic, and the film is not so much about getting the girl as understanding the communication barrier between girls and boys, and that our first love isnt necessary the one true love. As with Whistle Down the Wind, the adults often seem less mature and well-adjusted than the children, and the payoff is both unexpected and heart-warming. Rotten Tomatoes review The Movie Hour podcast: #58