The Miseducation of Cameron Post 2018 Movie Review

『A Quiet Rebellion Toward Oneself, A Journey of Recovering Repressed Love』

🎥 Movie Overview

🎬 Title: The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018)
🌍 Country: 🇺🇸 USA
🎞️ Genre: Coming-of-Age / Drama / Queer
🗓️ Production & Distribution: Beachside Films, FilmRise
⏳ Runtime: 91 minutes
📢 Director: Desiree Akhavan
🖋️ Screenplay: Desiree Akhavan, Cecilia Frugiuele
📖 Based on: Emily M. Danforth 『The Miseducation of Cameron Post』
📺 Platforms: Watcha, Wavve, Naver Series On, Apple TV

👩‍💼 Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz – Cameron Post
Sasha Lane – Jane Fonda
Quinn Shephard – Coley Taylor

🧩 Deep Story Exploration (Spoilers)

👩‍🏫 The Irony and Violence of 'Education'

'The Miseducation of Cameron Post' is an adaptation of Emily M. Danforth's novel of the same name, tackling the dark subject of a gay conversion therapy camp while focusing on the resilient selfhood and friendships of teenagers, crafting a hopeful coming-of-age narrative. It won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, earning critical acclaim.

✝️ The Absurdity of 'God's Promise'

The main setting, the conversion therapy facility 'God's Promise', defines homosexuality as SSA (Same-Sex Attraction), a pathological issue, and attributes its root cause to a hidden Gender Identity Disorder beneath the surface, like an iceberg. The camp’s teaching methods are essentially based on gaslighting and instilling shame, coercing students to loathe themselves and deny who they are.

• Dr. Lydia and Reverend Rick: Dr. Lydia, who runs the camp, uses strict logic and coldness to 'cure' homosexuality, while her brother Reverend Rick claims to be an 'ex-gay' himself to gain the students’ emotional trust. Though outwardly kind and gentle, their beliefs and methods constitute the greatest violence by breaking down the students' minds.

🏫 'Miseducation' vs. 'True Education'

The irony of the title 'The Miseducation of Cameron Post' emerges here. The 'official' education Cameron receives at the camp is destructive miseducation, forcing her to submit and deny herself.

In contrast, Cameron’s real growth and 'true education' come through the secret friendships she forges within the camp. Her interactions with quirky friends Jane and Adam empower her to affirm her identity and question the camp’s teachings. Through small acts of rebellion like smoking or playing pranks, they reaffirm the most important message to each other: "You are not wrong."

🩸 Cameron as the 'Silent Observer' (Chloë Grace Moretz’s Performance)

Cameron, portrayed by Chloë Grace Moretz, does not lash out in open rebellion or anger. Instead, she quietly observes and internalizes her surroundings. Her subtle facial expressions, appearing to comply while never fully absorbing the camp’s indoctrination, are the core of the film.

Watching her peers desperately cling to 'treatment,' Cameron realizes the program is not a simple mistake but an attempt to erase existence itself. Her silence is not submission but the strongest form of resistance against the absurdity, ultimately serving as a shield to preserve her selfhood.

📚 Loss and Grief

The film is infused with emotions of loss and grief, extending beyond the issue of conversion therapy.

• Cameron: She grapples with the sorrow of losing her parents, while simultaneously feeling a strange relief that they never knew about her sexuality. After their death, she is placed under the care of her aunt who rejects her identity, leading Cameron into a profound experience of losing herself.

• Adam: As a Lakota 'Two-Spirit,' Adam’s identity would traditionally have been respected. However, with a politician father seeking public approval, Adam faces the painful suppression of his true self.

• Mark’s Tragedy: Mark, the student most devoted to the camp’s teachings, descends into despair when his same-sex attraction does not vanish, ultimately leading to self-harm. This starkly illustrates the deadly destructiveness of such 'education.'

💡 The Thread of Hope: Friendship

The greatest irony of the camp is that within this space meant to 'cure' homosexuality, queer youth instead find the most genuine and powerful bonds. Jane’s prosthetic-leg-hidden marijuana stash becomes a symbolic medium of temporary liberation and comfort, offering a respite from surveillance and control. The scene where the trio sing along to 4 Non Blondes’ 'What’s Up' epitomizes the unquenchable youthful energy and rebellious spirit that persist even under oppression.

🏃‍♀️ Escape and a New Beginning

The film ends with Cameron, Jane, and Adam secretly escaping the camp, laughing together in the back of a truck. Without explaining their destination, the camera lingers on a 'Clinton/Gore 92' bumper sticker before fading to black.

This ending conveys several crucial messages:

• Immediate Liberation: Their escape symbolizes not only fleeing the physical space of the camp but also breaking free from the ideology that forced self-hatred. Their laughter embodies the triumph of selfhood.

• Uncertain Hope: There is no guarantee the world outside is kinder than 'God’s Promise.' Yet, it is their first step toward a new life, and with each other by their side, it represents powerful hope amid uncertainty.

• Historical Context: The early 1990s setting (hinted at by the Clinton/Gore sticker) reflects the transitional moment when LGBTQ+ rights movements were beginning to rise. Their escape can be seen not only as personal liberation but also as an act of courage sparking broader social change.

'The Miseducation of Cameron Post' tackles a heavy subject, yet it champions the dignity of young souls with warmth and thoughtfulness rather than cynicism or tragedy. The film paradoxically proves the message "It’s okay to be yourself" by showing it through the harshest circumstances.

🎯 Personal Rating

💕 Love Scene Intensity: ♥♥
⭐ Rating: ★★★