Stanley Kubrick once said “cinema is a mirror reflecting our soul and society”. For many young people, films can show not only who they are, but who they might become. Cinema helps people explore identity, mental health, belonging, and the search for freedom and authenticity. The following seven films present powerful journeys of self-discovery, capturing different facets of growing up and finding oneself.
The Breakfast Club (1985) dir. John Hughes
Five high school students, each representing a social stereotype, spend a Saturday detention together. Beneath their differences, they reveal shared fears, struggles, and desires. The film listens rather than explains, exploring teenage anger, pressure, and the thirst for acceptance. It’s a timeless portrait of inner rebellion and confusion during identity formation.
Breakfast on Pluto (2005) dir. Neil Jordan
Patrick “Kitten” Brady (Cillian Murphy) journeys through 1970s Ireland in search of his mother and a world that accepts his true self. With a brave and tender heart, Kitten challenges rigid gender norms, embodying resilience and beauty outside societal moulds. This poetic film celebrates radical self-acceptance amid adversity.
Dead Poets Society (1989) dir. Peter Weir
In a strict boys’ preparatory school, Mr. Keating (Robin Williams) inspires his students to “carpe diem”—seize the day—through poetry and quiet rebellion. The film explores academic pressure, the courage to defy authority, and the importance of living authentically. It is a lasting call to embrace individuality and passion.
Call Me By Your Name (2017) dir. Luca Guadagnino
Set in the sunlit landscapes of Northern Italy, Elio’s (Timothée Chalamet) first love with Oliver (Armie Hammer) awakens a sensual and emotional self-awareness. The film handles sexual awakening with grace and honesty, portraying tenderness and loss without melodrama. It becomes a gentle companion to young viewers navigating identity and desire.
Girl, Interrupted (1999) dir. James Mangold
Inside a psychiatric hospital, the film exposes the challenges of mental illness, nonconformity, and female identity. Through characters like Susanna (Winona Ryder) and Lisa (Angelina Jolie), it critiques society’s tendency to label and silence those who don’t fit in, while portraying the fight for dignity and self-understanding.
Fight Club (1999) dir. David Fincher
This dark allegory confronts the crisis of male identity in a consumerist society. The narrator’s (Edward Norton) violent alter ego (Brad Pitt) emerges from repression and confusion, illustrating the breakdown of self in a hollow world. The film warns of losing oneself, while suggesting that chaos may also be a path to truth.
Whiplash (2014) dir. Damien Chazelle
A young drummer, Andrew, battles an obsessive mentor driven by perfection and control. The film explores ambition, obsession, and the high cost of excellence when it demands more than skill it demands the soul. It’s a powerful look at identity struggles in the pursuit of greatness.
Maybe Fellini’s assertion that “cinema is the most beautiful illusion of life” was right. Through film, we glimpse who we are, who we want to be, and how we view the world. When cinema speaks to the soul, it whispers truths that can change us.
Words by Alexandra Anastopoulou
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