American Graffiti (1973)

Where Were You In '62? the poster asks us, a question which perfectly defines the nature of this film. This excellent tagline, along with the film itself, captures the innocence of what has been described as the last innocent time in American history. Long before we were nostalgic for the '70s (Dazed and Confused), the '70s was nostalgic for the doo-wop playing, drag racing, late 1950s era.

 American Graffiti tells the tale of a group of friends who have just graduated from high school. They begin doubting what their futures hold for them, and if it is what they want. This plot synopsis is purposefully generic, for it shows how this film could be about any teenager in any era. That is one of the beautiful aspects of this movie; it is timeless.

 Before George Lucas gained stardom for "Star Wars" (1977), and received a huge amount of backlash for the prequels to it, he was making small films. In my opinion, American Graffiti is his best film, due to the massive amount of heart it has. The time period alone makes viewers cherish every moment. The beautiful vehicles and the wonderful music makes one wonder why society had to change. And change it did.

 It is no coincidence that American Graffiti is set in 1962, the year prior to President Kennedy's assassination. The conflict in Vietnam also materialized around this time. Lucas set the film in '62 because it was the final year of what is considered the golden days of post-WWII America. This is rather evident within the film; despite its beauty there is always a sense of sudden closure looming over the characters.

 This is cemented by the final moments of the film, which inform the viewer what happens to each character in the years to come. Needless to say, the film captures the final night of their wonder years.

Any generation can relate to what the characters go through; Kurt and Steve don't know if they want to go to college, Toad just wants to finally get the girl, and John Milner attempts to avoid growing up as much as possible. American Graffiti is one of the greatest films ever made, and absolutely refuses to age.