A grungy coming-of-age tale circa 1990's Calgary
By Kaitlyn Simpson
When Tegan Quin saw Railey Gilliland vlog car tour on her TikTok feed, it was like she was watching her younger self.
After much pestering by the pop musicians Tegan and Sara – followed by the promise of extensive acting classes – showrunners Laura Kittrell and Clea DuVall hired twins Railey and Seazynn Gilliland to star in their new television series, High School. The first three episode had their World Premier at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September.
The sold-out crowd was a charming mix of avid movie goers and, presumably, Tegan and Sara fans.
Just before the start of the screening, after introductions were made, the middle-aged man sitting next to me said he hadn’t realized High School was a television show. If I’m being honest, neither had I. But the television format worked well with the story, giving viewers more time and space to understand each character.
Adopted from a memoir of the same name, High School takes places in 1990’s suburban Calgary. It tells the story of Tegan and Sara before they were Tegan and Sara. Swapping points of view, we learn about the sisters’ tumultuous but ultimately loving dynamic; the struggle of learning (and hiding) one’s queerness in adolescence; and the inherently relatable angst of secondary school.
Watch if you like grunge music, coming-of-age tales, and young love!
Watch season one of High School on Amazon Prime.