Schoolgirls Growing Up (1972)

Schoolgirls Growing Up is a time capsule of early-’70s European sex-ed cinema—part cheeky comedy, part earnest (and sometimes eyebrow-raising) “public discussion,” stitched together with staged interviews and a faux-scientific narration that tries to make sense of changing morals. If you’re curious about how that era packaged taboo topics for mainstream audiences, it’s fascinating in the way exploitation and social commentary uneasily share the same frame, with a campy, talky vibe that’s more provocative conversation-starter than conventional story. It’s not for everyone—its R18+ material includes nudity and scenes involving sexual violence, handled in a way many viewers will find dated or troubling—but approached with clear eyes, it’s a revealing artifact of its moment and a strange, oddly compelling watch for those interested in film history’s fringes.

Schoolgirls Growing Up is trying to package a “sex education” message inside a string of episodic camp stories, street interviews, and a pseudo-scientific narration that wants to sound responsible and modern for its time. The problem is that it often feels more like exploitation than insight, with a leering tone and content that includes sexual assault and attempted rape handled in a way many viewers will find upsetting or careless. If you’re expecting a thoughtful coming-of-age comedy-drama, this is likely to disappoint; it’s dated, uneven, and more interested in titillation than character or consequence. The only real redeeming value is as a snapshot of a particular era of European sexploitation cinema—useful for genre historians, but a poor choice for most casual viewers.