| She's Too Young | |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Michael Mahoney |
| Written by | Richard Kletter |
| Starring | Alexis Dziena Mike Erwin Marcia Gay Harden |
| Music by | Mark Snow |
| Distributed by | Lifetime |
| Release date(s) | February 16, 2004 |
| Running time | 88 minutes |
| Language | English |
She's Too Young is a made-for-TV movie released in 2004, starring Marcia Gay Harden as the mother of a 14 year old daughter who is involved in sexual acts hidden from her parents. The film deals with the issues of drugs and alcohol, peer pressure, parenting an adolescent, the influence of the sexually-driven media, and teen partying.
The movie was shot in Halifax, Nova Scotia[1] with the school scenes being shot at Halifax West High School.
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The film focuses upon three 14-year-old high school freshmen girls: Dawn (Miriam McDonald), Becca (Megan Park), and Hannah (Alexis Dziena). Hannah finds herself on the receiving end of peer pressure from her friends to engage in oral sex with Nick, who Hannah likes. She believes that she has to behave in a particular fashion in order to fit in with her more sexually active peers. As Hannah becomes more advanced sexually, she does not reveal her sexual encounters to her mother, who is quite concerned about the subject. Although Hannah seems to perform well in school and plays the cello, Hannah's mother is overly concerned with her daughter's well-being. Thus, Hannah regards her mother's concern as being intrusive. For example, Hannah is annoyed by the onslaught of intrusive questions that her mother throws at her. Thus, Hannah is reluctant to reveal the activities that she has performed upon Nick because she knows that her mother would be appalled.
When Hannah's best friend Dawn gets syphilis, the nurses at school begin widespread testing. It soon becomes evident that the school is experiencing a syphilis epidemic. Although Nick is identified as the main spreader of the disease, he does not appreciate the serious nature of the issue. He refuses to be tested and even mocks those who undergo testing. Dawn, one of the more promiscuous of the three girls, reluctantly agrees to get tested. When Dawn discovers out that she has contracted the disease, she realizes the consequences of her behavior and encourages her friends to get tested as well. Hannah notices a sore in her mouth one morning while brushing her teeth. She decides to see the nurse who tells Hannah that she is also infected. Thus, Hannah is forced to deal with the consequences of her actions.
When Hannah's mother finds out about the syphilis spread she launches an effort to alert the school parents about their childrens' dangerous behavior. She tells the parents that there is a need to teach their kids boundaries. Although Hannah's mother is certain that other parents will share her level of concern in respect of overcoming the crisis and helping their children, she is shocked by some of the parents' indifferent attitudes to their children's actions. Becca is very angry after her strict, religious mother decides to send her to a boarding school.
Hannah is alienated at school because of her mother. She receives insults from other children at her school. She leaves her house and goes to her friend Tommy's house. They both realize that they like each other and make out. Hannah wants to have sex, but Tommy refuses. Hannah becomes even more emotionally distraught and is angry at Tommy and she runs off. Meanwhile, Hannah's parents return home and discover that she isn't there. Her mother goes off to find her.
Walking around by herself in the street, Hannah calls Dawn and Becca. Dawn has just come back home, however she is still grounded and her mother doesn't allow her to speak with Hannah. Meanwhile, Becca is in a car with two boys. Hannah goes to a party at Brad's home, where many of the kids from her school are, looking for Becca. Brad directs Hannah to the basement and when she realizes that Becca is not there, he attempts to have sex with her. Tommy barges into the room, takes a picture of Brad with his camera phone and threatens to "e-mail your face straight to 911". Brad falls for it and leaves Hannah, then ends the party. Tommy takes Hannah to his house and calls her parents while she is sleeping. They come to fetch her and are happy to be with her. Hannah apologizes to them.
At the end of the film, Alexis Dziena appears to give a public service announcement urging teens to wait to have sex because of both physical and emotional consequences.
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