Short Term 12 is a powerful and inspiring movie about a treatment facility for young people.  It combines the stories of the teenagers at the facility with the line staff who look over them every day.  Brie Larson plays Grace, who has been working there for several years, and she cares passionately about the kids she looks after.  She knows very well that her job is not to be a therapist, but her own past with her abusive father means that she identifies strongly with some of the young people.  Her boyfriend Mason, played by John Gallager, loves her but gets frustrated when she pushes him away because she is dealing with her own personal turmoil.  Their relationship is portrayed with huge warmth by the two actors, and we get a strong understanding of their backgrounds and their motivations.  The main energy in the plot comes from the stories of two teens, Jayden and Marcus.  Jayden has just come into the facility and she says she will soon return to her father, but it is clear that he is far from an ideal parent.  Marcus has been there for years and he is soon turning 18, so he will be discharged.  He is scared of the future, and his anxiety is causing him to act out.  We get a strong sense of how damaged these young people are, but the movie also provides a strong message that is it possible to survive and progress in life, even after experiencing terrible things.  The acting is outstanding, and the music helps very well with the emotional message of the movie.  The DVD extras include the original short film on which this movie was based, and that is particularly interesting.  There are lots of deleted scenes too.  Recommended. 

© 2014 Christian Perring

Christian Perring, Professor of Philosophy, Dowling College, New York