A typical spring break movie “The Exploding Girl” is not. Yes, there are parties and relationship troubles. But, when Ivy (Zoe Kazan) returns home to New York for her spring break, the filmmakers steer clear of the typical spring break cliques and delve into the complex emotions of a young woman who still trying to find her way.

Ivy arrives in New York still longing for Greg, a fellow college co-ed who audiences who only meet through a series of awkward phone conversations. She fills her vacation days with helping teach dance lessons, eating meals with her mother (Maryann Urbano), and reconnecting with her old friend, Al (Mark Rendall), who asked to stay at her mother’s apartment during the break. From listening to music together to knowing each other’s interests, it is clear that Al and Ivy share an unspoken bond.

Al is one of the few people to know that Ivy suffers from seizures. An aspect of her life that Ivy never seems willing to discuss but it clearly dictates the way she lives her life. She is not only reluctant to discuss her medical condition; she keeps herself guarded from the world, unwilling to share anything she is feeling with the people that surround her.

The title, “The Exploding Girl,” refers to Ivy’s seizure disorder, but the film could just as easily be called, “The Un-exploding Girl.” For the majority of the movie, viewers are left holding their breath, waiting for Ivy to well explode, for her emotions to bubble over and finally get an inside glimpse at the inner workings of a girl who seems to have too much on her plate.

The role of Ivy was written with Kazan in mind and she appears to be the right choice for the role. Kazan, who won Best Actress at the Tribeca Film Festival for her part, plays the character with a mixture of subtle grace and reliability. She will surely remind viewers of their college roommates, cousins, or even themselves. It’s her ability to connect with audiences that sets Kazan apart from other Hollywood actresses.

This is Kazan’s first leading role and she brings depth and complexity to a seemingly ordinary role. Kazan previously played Leonardo Dicaprio’s mistress in “Revolutionary Road” and Meryl Streep’s daughter in “It’s Complicated.” The daughter of screenwriter Nicholas Kazan and actress Robin Swicord and granddaughter of legendary film and theater director Elia Kazan, she is continually proving herself with various roles that show the range of her acting ability.

A strong cast of supporting characters surrounds Kazan. Rendall plays the character of Al with a blend of an anything goes attitude and underlying care for his friend, Ivy. Urbano is also believable as Ivy’s busy single mother.

Bradley Rust Gray, the director of the film, finds a delicate balance between allowing Ivy moments of reflection and keeping audiences interested in the plot and characters. Unlike similar films, “The Exploding Girl” has no overbearing score ready to fill every moment of silence. Instead, Gray selected to allow audiences to feel the quiet and realize that unfortunately, in reality, life doesn’t come with a soundtrack.

The cinematography also allows audiences to stay connected to Ivy. She is the anchor of the film and is in almost every scene; but, audiences never get sick of seeing her. She is always framed differently through a series of unique shots including many close-ups that allow viewers to clearly see into her eyes and forge a deeper connection with the character.

“The Exploding Girl” is a character-driven exploration of the journey to adulthood. The film doesn’t get lost in a spring break adventure; instead, it focuses on one girl’s process of self-discovery if only for a brief time. As Ivy leaves to return to college, you can’t help but want to put on your own seat belt and be with her on the ride of her life.