www.thegaragemovie.com

Need a break from all the Holiday blockbusters, fast cars, and superheroes. Head on over to The Garage. The 2006 Independent Film written and directed by Carl Thibault uses the classic metaphor of a garage to tell this highly relatable coming of age story. The Garage is set in the late 1970s and focuses on Matt who works in his father’s garage in his small hometown. Like many young men he dreams of something bigger and better.

While The Garage is set in a small town, it really could be set anywhere, as we all face that coming of age moment sooner or later where we need to break out on our own.You can find a quick rundown here In this case, the main focus is the relationship between Matt and his father. Does Matt’s considering leaving mean he is abandoning his father?

This story also compares different sides of the father-son relationship. Matt’s friend, for instance, does not have a positive relationship with his father, which contributes further to Matt’s confusion when it comes to moving on. Does moving out of one’s childhood home have to be and escape or can it simply be a way to move forward with one’s life without abandoning anyone?

Without any especially flashy “A-list” names in it’s reporitoire, The Garage, may be easy to miss, but if you’re looking for a good relatable coming of age story, this is something you may want to check out.