Aashiqana Season 1 Story:-
‘Growing Up’ delves into the personal journeys of ten young adults as they navigate the challenges of adulthood, overcoming hardships, and confronting the trials required to mature and face the world.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 8 September 2022 |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Documentary |
| Episodes | 10 |
| Creator | Brie Larson, Culture House |
| Cast | Alex Crotty, Clare Della Valle, Isabel Lam, Amiri Nash, Athena Nair, Sofia Ongele, Emily Flores, Sage Grace Dolan-Sandrino, Gavin Arneson, Vanessa Aryee, David Puma |
| Director | Nicole Galovski, Kishori Rajan, Brie Larson, Elegance Bratton, Smriti Mundhra, Yara Shahidi, Ashley Eakin, Sydney Freeland, Bernardo Ruiz, Ekwa Msangi, Rudy Valdez |
| Producer | Brie Larson, Raeshem Nijhon, Nicole Galovski, Carri Twigg |
| Production | Culture House |
| Certificate | 13+ |
Clearly targeted at millennials and Gen Z, ‘Growing Up’ spans ten episodes, each highlighting the story of a different young adult overcoming adversity to achieve personal growth. The series covers a range of topics, from depression and body shaming to ending period poverty, showcasing the resilience and determination of its subjects. While the series’ intentions are noble, its flashy presentation detracts from the impactful messages it aims to convey.
Each episode of ‘Growing Up’ focuses on an individual’s journey, such as Alex’s struggle with depression after experiencing bullying at school, or Amiri’s journey to come out and become involved in the Black Lives Matter movement. The episode featuring Clare and Isabel highlights their efforts to raise awareness about menstruation-related issues in their community. Other episodes explore themes of disability, transgender identity, and artistic discovery.
The series adopts a format where participants share their stories while seated together, interspersed with stylized re-enactments that often feel out of place. These dramatizations detract from the sincerity of the storytelling, with scenes like classmates dancing with tampons and napkins undermining the seriousness of the subject matter. Similarly, re-enactments in Amiri’s episode portray a pastor in a negative light, detracting from the authenticity of the narrative.
Despite its commendable intentions, ‘Growing Up’ falls short due to its superficial treatment of serious issues. While Oscar winner Brie Larson and other filmmakers behind the series deserve credit for their efforts, the emphasis on style over substance diminishes the impact of the stories being told. The series’ focus on aesthetics and presentation detracts from the authenticity of the participants’ experiences, ultimately undermining its potential to inspire and educate viewers.
