Beyond Clueless

One of the most intriguing new films that are out at the cinema: listing at various cinemas across London, Beyond Clueless looks to be the best thing on in London for under-25s next week. UK director Charlie Lyne presents an extraordinary debut feature, exploring the nature and history of the teen movie, and, with its upcoming release, 2015's latest British films just got retro. Lyne’s fascination with the genre comes from the peculiar relationship it holds with its audience – so much so that contemporary adolescent life is, for Lyne, as informed by teen movies as the other way around: 'No film will ever mean as much to you as the one that helped you through puberty.'
Lyne raised his micro-budget through a crowd-funding scheme that earned him enough to commit to a grueling six-month editing process, amalgamating over two hundred coming-of-age classics, one of the most fun films on in London cinemas next weekend. Speaking in an interview with The Skinny, the director (himself a professed teen movie fanatic) has declared his ambition to explore ‘that simultaneous feeling of nostalgia, joy and affection’ attached to a teen movie. ‘I was trying to think how best to condense that feeling into some sort of statement’, says Lyne.
What this statement will be remains to be seen, but, in terms of the film’s initial feedback, Beyond Clueless has received almost laughably trivial criticism. Current movie reviews suggest that audiences have been less concerned with the film's theoretical content and more with their subjective experiences of how each specific teen movie has been represented.'The most biting criticism I tend to get' says Lyne, 'is not ‘Why did you waste an hour of my life?’ but more along the lines of: ‘How dare you misrepresent '13 Going on 30!’' Hopefully upon its release at the end of January, this nostalgic saga will meet with some worthwhile debate – be braced for an introspective re-visiting of your adolescent years, one of Gen-Y's most exciting new releases. Film buffs, get ready for serious doses of 90s nostalgia. 
The ICA will be screening Beyond Clueless until 29th January. Catch the special opening night screening on Friday 23 January, followed by Q&A with Charlie Lyne and hosted by writer and broadcaster Danny Leigh. A 'bona fide frat party' will be taking place in the ICA Bar afterwards. Click here for tickets and more information. 
CultureWhisper exclusive interview with Charlie Lyne:
Click here to read our exclusive interview with Beyond Clueless director Charlie Lyne.