Avalon High
2011 · Directed by Stuart Gillard
Original language: English
- fantasy
- family
- drama
- tv movie
The story
Elaine "Ellie" Harrison has just moved from Minnesota to Annapolis, Maryland while her parents take a year-long sabbatical to continue their medieval studies in nearby Washington D.C. Her new high school, Avalon High, seems like a typical high school with the stereotypical students: Lance the jock, Jennifer the cheerleader, Marco, the bad boy/desperado, and Will, the senior class president, quarterback, and all around good guy. But not everyone at Avalon High is who they appear to be, not even Ellie herself. Eventually, it becomes apparent that Avalon High is a situation where the ancient Arthurian legend is repeating itself.
What it’s like
Bright, glossy daylight over a sunlit suburban high school, with clean TV-movie framing, wide establishing shots of Annapolis waterfront and lockers, and warm, saturated colour that feels like early-2010s digital video. The score leans on bouncy pop-rock and light synth beds, with sword-and-castle fantasy flickers breaking into the everyday hallways. The mood is breezy, wholesome and nostalgic, a comfortable hour-and-a-half for a lazy afternoon or a comfort rewatch with a bowl of popcorn. Pacing is brisk and episodic, with frequent cuts between classroom banter, locker-hall flirtation and mysterious glimpses of an older legend. Emotional register is earnest and light, centred on a new girl slowly finding her footing, feeling out who she can trust and recognising that she belongs to something larger than she expected. Intensity is very mild: some bickering, a little jealousy and romantic tension, a few tense moments of uncertainty, but no real violence, gore, or frightening content. It suits younger teens and adults who want a sweet, gentle fantasy with familiar high-school comfort and a wink at old legends.
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