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Palo Alto

Director: Gia Coppola Run Time: 100 min. Format: DCP Rating: R Release Year: 2014

Starring: Chris Messina, Christian Madsen, Emma Roberts, James Franco, Nat Wolff, Val Kilmer

An unflinching portrait of adolescent lust, boredom, and self-destruction, PALO ALTO is a teen movie for the ages.

Shy, sensitive April (Emma Roberts) is the class virgin, torn between an illicit flirtation with her soccer coach Mr. B (James Franco) and an unrequited crush on sweet stoner Teddy (Jack Kilmer). Emily (Zoe Levin), meanwhile, offers sexual favors to every boy to cross her path — including both Teddy and his best friend Fred (Nat Wolff), a live wire without filters or boundaries. As one high school party bleeds into the next — and April and Teddy struggle to admit their mutual affection — Fred’s escalating recklessness starts to spiral into chaos.

Palo Alto is an astonishing debut feature from writer-director Gia Coppola, based on the book “Palo Alto: Stories” by James Franco and featuring new music from Devonté Hynes (Blood Orange).

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