Comedy
United States of America
Permanent is a coming-of-age comedy that follows 13-year-old Aurelie Dickson, played by Kira McLean, and her family as they move to Virginia in the 1980s. Aurelie wants nothing more than to fit in, but her life is turned upside down when her mother, played by Patricia Arquette, gives her a home perm gone terribly wrong.
The disastrous hairstyle, which leaves her with a head of wild and curly hair, attracts attention from the bullies at school, and Aurelie is forced to deal with their taunting and bullying. Meanwhile, her parents are going through their own struggles, trying to find their place in a new town while facing financial difficulties and marital problems.
The film, directed by Colette Burson, is an endearing and quirky look at adolescence, family dynamics, and the pressures to conform to societal expectations. It also features a standout supporting cast, including Rainn Wilson, who plays a flamboyant and charismatic hairdresser, and Michael Greene, who plays Aurelie's eccentric grandfather.
