FAME HIGH

Scott Hamilton Kennedy's charming follow-up to his Academy Award-nominated The Garden captures all the drama, competition, heartbreak, and triumph among a group of freshman and senior students at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. From the nail-biting freshman auditions to the spectacular graduation performance, this crowd-pleasing coming-of-age documentary is a tribute to discovering your passion, embracing your talent, and taking it to the next level.

Kennedy's vérité approach is a refreshing perspective on his subject and a potent complement to phenomena like Glee and American Idol that have captivated audiences with stories like this—of young underdogs finding expression and success through the performing arts, particularly in that crucial moment before adulthood. Kennedy's teens are charismatic and endearing characters, whose at-home and in-school dramas prove to be as absorbing and inspiring as any that you'd find on-stage or behind-the-scenes. The kids of Fame High teach us the value of finding your voice, not only in art, but in life.