a 14 year old girl develop her first serious crush on the 17 year old boy that live near by and while simultaneously try to overcome her feeling of inadequacy in comparison to her old sister . that be the simple premise of this beautiful and poetic coming of age film from director robert mulligan . mulligan be famous for previously direct summer of 42 in 1971 and to kill a mockingbird in 1962 and two giant of the come of age genre . here he direct newcomer in the principal role represent reese witherspoon and in her film debut and a the 14 year old girl while emily warfield and a the old sister while jason london and a court and the 17 year old boy . reese witherspoon be astonishingly good in her film debut and display every emotion that a 14 year old girl feel in experience young love and hurt and never strike a false note . warfield and london be both equally good as well . the film accurately depict each adolescent thought or feeling in regard to love with heartfelt sensitivity and never crossing over into maudlin excess even once . kudos to the autobiographical screenplay from jenny wingfield while this be one of the very few film about young love that be honest and consistent in tone without be emotionally dishonest or sensationalist . the music be wonderfully simple and accentuate the tone and mood from scene to scene and but never become intrusive . the beautiful cinematography be by famed horror director freddie francis and who be in his 70 when this be shoot . tess harper and sam waterston play the girl parent with dead aim accuracy for 1957 and care and strict and and emotionally simple . gail strickland be good also a the boy mother . there be feeling to sort out and lesson to learn and and truth to face in this sweet natured film that pack an emotional wallop . to date and this be robert mulligan last film . this be one of the very best film of 1991. of 4 star .