本片讲述一个男孩从6岁到18岁的成长历程，导演理查德•林克莱特花了12年时间来完成这部作品。它仔细描画了孩子的成长过程，及其父母亲各个方面的变化，可以让观众细致入微地体会岁月流逝的痕迹。为了不打扰主演艾拉•萨尔蒙的正常生活，拍摄均在他暑假期间的简短时间内完成。

1.When you’re young, happiness is something to be had; as you age, happiness becomes a goal that you chase; now you’ve grown, happiness is a state of mind that you try to understand. 

小时候的快乐是样东西，拥有就幸福；成长时的快乐是个目标，达到就幸福；长大后的快乐是个心态，明白就幸福。 

2.. Life is expensive。 You know, you have to be responsible. 

生活很昂贵，你需要负责。 

3.It’s like it’s always right now, you know? 

我们永远活在当下一刻，不是吗？ 

4.It’s all timing with these things, you know. 

感情的事都是时机问题。 

5.. There are billions of us just laying around, not really doing anything. We’ve even pretty good at self-maintenance and reproducing constantly. How evil is that? We’re fucked. 

成千上亿的人只是活着而已，无所事事。我们也很会自我保养，并且能不断繁殖。多么可怕，我们都不再是自我了。 

6.You know how everyone's saying seize the moment?I don't know,I'm kind of thinking,it's the other way around,you know, like the moment seizes us. 

你明白为什么人们都说要抓住机会、把握此刻吗?我不明白。我觉得正好相反,是这一刻抓住了我们。

7.And sometimes in this life you gotta fight. 

只是人生中有时候需要反抗而已。 

8.You just kinda come and go as you please. 

你来去随心。 

9.If you truly take care of you, you will be amazed at how much girls start lining up at your front door.

如果你真的照顾好自己的心，你会惊讶的发现，不知有多少那样的姑娘在你门前排长队。 

10.I've met a lot of talented people over the years. How many of them made it professionally without discipline, commitment and really good work ethic? I can tell you. I can count it on two fingers. It's not gonna happen for you, Mason. The world is too competitive. There are too many talented people who are willing to work hard; and a butt load of morons who are untalented, who are more than willing to  you. As a matter of fact, a lot of them are sitting in that classroom out there right now. Hm? You know what they're doing? They're doing their assignments. Which is what you're supposed to be doing, but you're not. 

这些年，我见过很多有天赋的人，你认为他们之中有多少人能够在不自律，没有决心和职业道德的情况下成为专业人士？我可以告诉你，我两个手指头就能数完了。你也不能，梅森。这个世界竞争太激烈了。有太多愿意努力的天才，还有一大堆没有天赋的蠢蛋，他们都愿意超过你。事实上，他们中的大多人正坐在外面的教室里，你知道他们在干什么吗？做作业。做着你该做但没有做的事。