Context

Based on the novel written by Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower tells the story of 15-year-old Charlie (Logan Lerman), an endearing and naive outsider. The introvert freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors, Sam and Patrick (Emma Watson and Ezra Miller), who welcome him to the real world. The film sees Charlie coping with first love, the suicide of his best friend, and his own mental illness while struggling to find a group of people with who he belongs.

High school is a time full of awkwardness, trials, successes, failures, and most of all, growing up. No matter what someone’s background is, the teenage years are ones of growth and discovery. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, directed and screen written by Stephen Chbosky, portrays these experiences in a relatable and moving way which creates a lasting impression and perspective on the teenage experience.

One scene that shows the overall excellence of film techniques used in The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the final scene, where the three friends drive through a tunnel. Together, the narration, music, cinematography and many other factors create a scene that sends chills across your skin in how beautiful and simple it is. The tunnel scene effectively uses film techniques to appeal to the audience’s emotions and encourage them to feel as if they are involved in the film and personally connected with the characters and their experiences.