Dear Cinephiles,

We’ve all felt lonely, misunderstood or like you don’t belong at some point – maybe if you’re like me – you’ve felt all of these emotions all at once in the past immediate weeks. Stephen Chbosky’s film – “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” – the adaption of his own book – beautifully captures that state of mind – and reminds you the importance of friends in trying times. I adore this film. I’ve shown it in my classes repeated times. No matter what your proximity to your high school experience is – you will relate to this coming of age story – and will relate to one of the “misfits” portrayed in it.

I particularly love the notion that the freethinking students are the tonic that heal the wounded soul at the center of the story. Through art – love and individuality, Charlie learns to be himself and embrace his uniqueness. The direction is sensitive and heartfelt. The performances are flawless – Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and a scene-stealing turn by Ezra Miller.

If you have a teenager at home – ask him or her to sit with you. I guarantee you they will enjoy it as well. It’s one of my favorite movies. It’s heartfelt – nostalgic and just lovely.

Paul Rudd plays this caring teacher who mentors Charlie. They have this very memorable and moving exchange,

Charlie: Mr. Anderson? Can I ask you something?
Bill: Yeah.
Charlie: Why do nice people choose the wrong people to date?
Bill: Are we talking about anyone specific?
[Charlie nods]
Bill: Well, we accept the love we think we deserve.
Charlie: Can we make them know that they deserve more?
Bill: We can try.

I urge you to watch “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” And remember, “you are infinite.”

Love,
Roger

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
(Available to stream on Netflix. Available to rent on iTunes, Amazon Prime, Vudu, Google Play and YouTube.)

Written by Stephen Chbosky
Directed by Stephen Chbosky
Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Mae Whitman, Kate Walsh, Dylan McDermott, Joan Cusack and Paul Rudd
103 minutes

A funny and touching coming-of-age story, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a modern classic that captures the dizzying highs and crushing lows of high school. Freshman Charlie (Logan Lerman) is a perpetual wallflower until he falls under the spell of the beautiful, free-spirited Sam (Emma Watson) and her fearless stepbrother, Patrick (Ezra Miller); together, the trio navigates love, loss, fear, hope – and the quest for the perfect song – in this unforgettable adaptation of Stephen Chbosky’s beloved novel.

About Writer and Director Stephen Chbosky
Stephen Chbosky wrote and directed the feature film adaptation of his award-winning novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He has worked in film and television, on projects including the film version of the smash-hit musical Rent; the TV show Jericho; and others. He also edited Pieces, a collection of short stories for Pocket Books. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Chbosky graduated from the University of Southern California’s Filmic Writing Program. His first film was The Four Corners of Nowhere. (Simon & Schuster)

The Music of The Perks of Being a Wallflower
“Music was vital to it. And not just songs from my youth, but modern songs. I wrote the tunnel moment to the song “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead,” by Stars [from 2005]. I wrote that first kiss scene to “Samson,” by Regina Spektor [from 2006]. The longing of these songs reminded me of the longing of that time. And that was the keyword. It’s funny, because a lot of articles [about the book and film] say “angst,” but it’s not angst; angst is different. Usually, for kids, it’s longing, and how much they want to know what’s next, and want to know that there’s a better world for them. “Landslide” is a beautiful song, and I would have loved to include it, but it’s a very soft ballad. The problem was when we got to the tunnel scene I just thought, We need something that’s not soft. We need something that’s driving, that’s epic in nature, and “Heroes” was a perfect fit. Alexandra Patsavas, our music supervisor—it was her idea. Because I told her, “I know I’ve got a tall order for you, and I’m sorry, but I need, I need an epic song that I didn’t know in 1992.” And she came up with “Heroes.” (Vanity Fair)

Stephen’s Journey from Page to Screen
“When I was writing my book, I was 26 years old. I finished it when I was 28. I was a very troubled young man and I was trying desperately to find answers that would make my life make sense. The exercise of writing The Perks of Being a Wallflower was my answer. From the moment I published it and began getting letters, people have said to me and thanked me over and over for “understanding them”. What I say back to them is: If I understood you that means that you understood me and you have validated my experiences and my point of view as much, if not more than I have validated yours. What I’ve realized by the sheer number of people who reached out and all the various problems they have had is how much people have in common and how truly not alone anybody is.” (The Guardian)