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Deeply rooted in Australia´s construction as a young nation, ´coming of age´ has been the defining narrative of Australia´s national cinema. This book provides the first study which systematically explores the ´coming of age´ theme in Australian feature films produced since the turn of the millennium, foregrounding how films use a range of diverse (his)stories to respond to the centrality of this theme.

Rather than focussing on ´coming of age´ mainly in its portrayal of a (successful) maturation process, this study explores the possibilities inherent in what is conceived of as a ´permanently´ transitional ´coming of age´ process, providing a crucial starting point for the re-definition of national fictions. A range of cinematic genres, including the road movie, crime film, sport film, romance and musical, is used to challenge and (to varying degrees) destabilise the national myth of Australia as a youthful, egalitarian society with a chance and ´fair go´ for everyone.

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