Five films that show what growing up can mean
Summary
Five films from Nepal, South Asia, Europe and Korea explore growing up through friendship, loss, identity, family pressures and survival. From Close and Masaan to Numafung and House of Hummingbird, the selections show adulthood as a journey shaped by difficult realities and self-discovery.
Key Points
- The article highlights five coming-of-age films that portray different meanings of growing up across cultures and contexts.
- The films explore themes including friendship, identity, loss, caste, patriarchy, war, displacement and adolescence.
- Nepali film Numafung is featured for its portrayal of women’s lives and patriarchal expectations within a Limbu family.
- Several of the films are available on Netflix, including Close and House of Hummingbird.
