: Modern stories often include the "co-parenting" dynamic with ex-spouses, showing a wider, more complex village.

The Edge of Seventeen (2016) features a brilliant subplot about Hailee Steinfeld’s protagonist, Nadine, navigating her widowed mother’s new relationship. The mother begins dating a man from her exercise class, and Nadine reacts with vicious cruelty. But the film refuses to demonize the teenager. We understand that Nadine’s rage is misdirected grief for her father, who died by suicide.

The New Normal: Navigating Blended Family Dynamics in Modern Cinema