By Barry Garron 20 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) -
Lauren and Cappie were
fresh-faced teens in 2002. Their braces lurked behind shy
smiles as they began their freshman year at Northwest High
School in Overland Park, Kan., a suburb of Kansas City, Mo. The
girls were part of a group of 12 that remained in close contact
with first-time documentary maker Sharon Liese, a single mother
whose own daughter attended Northwest at the same time.
During eight episodes of WE tv's "High School
Confidential," Liese, employing a sort of time-lapse
photography, shows each girl maturing during four years of high
school. By interviewing the girls and their parents, she
presents a microcosm of changes among teens. More than that,
she shows how decisions they make at one point affect outcomes
later.
The premiere episode revolves around Lauren and Cappie.
Lauren, the apple of her parents' eyes, is diagnosed with a
brain tumor during her sophomore year. Cappie, the rebellious
product of a broken family, veers off into a life of partying
but has a change of heart.
The series is remarkable for the way it compresses time and
hones in on pivotal moments. Even so, it might have been even
stronger if Liese could have delved more deeply into these
young lives so that we not only see the changes but also better
understand, particularly in Cappie's case, how they came about.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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