What Are Friends For?

In this 1983 "After School" special, based on the Mildred Ames' YA novel, Amy Warner and her recently divorced mother move to California. Finding it hard to forgive her father, Amy eventually befriends Michelle, who's experiencing a similar situation with her divorced parents. After awhile, however, Amy finds her new friend is obsessive, selfish, a pathological liar, and out of touch with reality. In fact, Amy begins to realize that Michelle's bizarre behavior is a sign of mental illness, and that she needs to find help for her friend. As Amy struggles with her relationship with Michelle, she realizes that her parents struggled with their marriage and that sometimes relationships don't work out as originally planned. What Are Friends For? deals with several painful but important topics, such as friends who hurt vs. friends who help, loyalty in relationships, shoplifting, using people in selfish ways, coping with grief, mental illness, and most importantly, the question of how far a commitment to a friend should extend. These are valuable issues for teens to be aware of, think about, and discuss with a trusted adult. This drama is well acted, realistic, and not melodramatic (though given the 1983 copyright date, the clothing, hairstyles and cars are dated); however, some scenes may be too intense for younger viewers. Recommended. Also newly available from New Kid Home Video: The Skating Rink (based on the novel by Mildred Lee) and Thank You, Jackie Robinson (based on the novel by Barbara Cohen). Aud: J, P. (L. Stevens)