Trash Baby: Thriving Teens in Rural America

 By José Alberto Hermosillo

“Trash Baby” is a remarkable coming-of-age story that effectively depicts the struggles of American kids in a Midwestern town in the middle of nowhere. The hyper-realistic, honest teenage drama fully immerses viewers with its genuine concern for the characters' innocence and how their oppressive environment hinders healthy growth. Flawless filmmaking.

Milwaukie-born Jacy Mairs makes her impressive directorial debut with a personal film she also wrote, “Trash Baby.” In her notable achievement, she accurately depicts the painful growth of marginalized children in rural America.

This American teen drama, set in the late 1990s, follows Stevie (Esther Harrison), a mature 13-year-old girl curious about what older teenagers do during a hot, humid summer in Pine Park. The film shows her preference for hanging out with older, troubled kids rather than with other girls her age. Her neighbor and best friend, Edie (Chloe Kramer), is supportive of her by teaching her to use makeup, but she is already a mom and is struggling with alcohol, sex, and drugs, which the other teens take advantage of.

Steve’s motorhome isn’t big enough; she dreams of being Britney Spears. She pushes herself to expand her horizons, but she still doesn’t know where her life is headed. She keeps thinking about how cool it is to hang out with bad company, experience drinking, drugs, and maybe one thing can lead to another.

Esther Harris is Trash Baby in Hollywood. Photo by José A Hermosillo, Copyrights 2025

Young actress Esther Harris delivers an outstanding performance, confidently anchoring her feature debut. The other talented actors also deserve recognition, including Eddie Wollrabe as the older, more mature kid in the group, Brad, and his real-life brother, André Marc Wollrabe, as Neon, the gang leader.

Director Jacy Mairs (Trash Baby). Photo by José A Hermosillo, Copyrights 2025 

For director Jacy Mairs, a trailer park in Oregon was essential because the oppressive environment becomes a character in the film, illustrating how American kids grow up in harsh conditions.

Alongside “The Florida Project,” “Beast of the Southern Wild,” and “Kids,” “Trash Baby” stands out as a key film about the growth and maturity of American children.

When teens feel worthless, some kind of hope must shine through. The question is whether Stevie wants to grow up and join the older teenagers’ gang, following the path of her very young single mother’s neighbor with no future, or continue being Mommie’s little girl and playing with dolls.

Trash Baby cast in Hollywood. Photo by José A Hermosillo, Copyrights 2025 

Trash Baby cast in Hollywood. Photo by José A Hermosillo, Copyrights 2025

Director Jacy Mairs (Trash Baby) and José A Hermosillo, Copyrights 2025 

Esther Harris is Trash Baby in Hollywood, and José A Hermosillo, Copyrights 2025

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