Flashback: Sandusky, Ohio, 1984, a kinder, gentler middle America. What better setting for director David Moreton's charming and poignant coming out piece, Edge of Seventeen? With little else to do in Sandusky, Eric and his best friend Maggie spend their days affecting the Boy George look and toying with the idea of becoming a couple — until Rod catches Eric's eye. Subtle flirtation between the two young men quickly progresses to kissing and groping. By now, though, Maggie's totally fallen for Eric. Torn between his lovelorn gal pal and a dreamy stranger, what's Eric to do? Buy his first Bronski Beat album, of course. Confused and scared, Eric heads for the local gay bar, which becomes his refuge at the same time as its denizens become his surrogate family.

Moreton pulls truly wonderful, inspired performances from his actors and keenly captures the innocence and pain of first times and first loves. Many films have mined the same material, but rarely as sweetly and purely as this.