Marielle Heller’s semi-autobiographical film recounts one young woman’s sexual awakening in a dysfunctional family during a liberal era. Bel Powley is a revelation as Minnie, a curious girl of 17 who enters into a relationship with her mother’s boyfriend Monroe (Alexander Skarsgard). Hardly exploitive, the movie provides viewers with a realistic look at the sea of confusion Heller’s relatable protagonist must contend with while providing a portrait of a young woman who successfully navigates a world she doesn’t understand on her way to being a strong, independent person in her own right.