Anticipation.
Having taken Sundance by storm, its messages will take this film further.
Enjoyment.
Relatability will always win, and this is at the heart of the film.
In Retrospect.
Made with love, but sometimes felt cluttered through its exploration of relationships.
At 27, I find life more complex than I did at 17, but boy did my hormonal self feel confused back then. As a girl who goes to sleep with crystals on my windowsill in an attempt to get rid of bad energy, my younger self would have dreamt about a manual on how to navigate complexities such as boys and emotions, etc. Shuchi Talati’s impressive debut feature Girls Will Be Girls is a sensitive and quiet addition to the coming-of-age genre that is relatable whether you’re a young teen going through love for the first time, or looking back on those exciting yet heartbreaking years of so many firsts.
The film, which debuted to plaudits at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, follows Mira (Preeti Panigrahi), the first female prefect at her school in north India. Her newfound responsibility means keeping everyone in check, regardless of what others think of her. The arrival of new student Sri (Kesav Binoy Kiron) disrupts Mira’s squeaky-clean image, while creating further separation between herself and her mother Anita (Kani Kusruti). As Mira and Sri’s relationship slowly and subtly begins to blossom, so does his closeness to her mother. Despite only getting close to her daughter’s suitor to protect her from any potential heartache, the film’s second act begins to feel like we have embarked on an emotional love triangle, fuelled by jealousy and competition.
Get more Little White Lies
Inspired by her own experiences at her school in the Indian city of Vadodara, Talati perfectly captures teen angst and the intensity that comes with crushes and first loves. Secrecy comes to mind when we embark on our own sexual awakenings: hidden rendez-vous and hiding facts from parents that generate both excitement and anxiety. In one scene we see Mira in the shower practising her kissing techniques on her hand, something we have all done at some point. Shortly after, her relationship with Sri develops on a sexual level.
While Sri is honest about his previous experiences, Mira begins to doubt herself but nevertheless feels ready to embark on her own journey of self-exploration. Talati’s delicate direction should be applauded. As a viewer watching this all unfold, it’s hard not to relate to Mira’s experience. The film’s gentle pace and dulcet score emphasise the pressures that can go on in our minds during times of questioning and making sure we are making the right choices.
Lessons are always learned in our formative years, especially when it comes to romance and sex. We are never ready, yet we are always ready. Girls Will Be Girls has relatability at its core, and is sympathetic to what an important period this is. Despite the film losing some momentum on the home stretch, this can’t take away from its overall message – there’s no stronger bond than that between a mother and her daughter.
