top of page
Check back soon
Once posts are published, you’ll see them here.
Search

Movies: Girls will be girls (2024) by Shuchi Talati - A Mother-Daughter Story of Rebellion

  • Writer: dailyentertainment95
    dailyentertainment95
  • 13 hours ago
  • 6 min read

Short Summary: A Forbidden Awakening

A 16-year-old girl at an all-girls boarding school in the Himalayas is on the cusp of womanhood, navigating first love and the complicated, jealous relationship with her own mother who lives out her unfulfilled desires through her daughter. Myra, a popular and intelligent student, is a class leader at a prestigious school in the Himalayas. Her world is turned upside down when a new boy arrives, and she experiences the intoxicating rush of first love. As she navigates this new feeling, her mother, a former student at the same school, begins to project her own unfulfilled desires and fears onto Myra. This coming-of-age story is a raw and honest look at the complex, often fraught, relationship between a mother and daughter, and the struggle to find one's own voice.

Detailed Summary: The Mother, the Daughter, and the Boy

A poignant and sensitive film that explores female desire, jealousy, and generational trauma in the confines of a boarding school.

  • The film is set in a boarding school in a pristine Himalayan valley, a seemingly idyllic world of strict rules and rigid traditions.

  • Myra (Preeti Panigrahi), the protagonist, is on the brink of graduating. She is smart, confident, and admired by her peers. Her world is a small, controlled one, until she meets the new boy who joins the school.

  • As she navigates her first intimate relationship, Myra's mother, Anila (Kani Kusruti), is more than just a distant parent. She is a former student who is living vicariously through her daughter.

  • The mother-daughter dynamic is the heart of the film. Anila is both supportive and suffocating, pushing Myra to be her best but also secretly competing with her. This emotional tension escalates as Myra's relationship deepens, forcing both women to confront their own unfulfilled lives and desires.

  • The film uses a slow, deliberate pace and a naturalistic style to explore the quiet moments of intimacy and conflict. It's not a loud drama but a series of subtle observations about the emotional landscape of its characters.

Director's Vision: The Female Gaze

Director Shuchi Talati’s vision is to tell a coming-of-age story with a distinctly female gaze, focusing on the emotional and physical journey of a young woman's awakening.

  • Shuchi Talati, an Indian director making her feature debut, was inspired to tell a story about female desire and the complex relationship between a mother and daughter.

  • Her vision was to create a film that feels both intimate and universal. She uses a documentary-style approach, with a handheld camera and natural lighting, to create a sense of realism.

  • The film’s focus on the female experience is a deliberate choice. It portrays the characters' emotional struggles and their sexual awakening with a sensitivity and honesty that is rarely seen in mainstream cinema.

  • The director uses the secluded setting of the boarding school as a character itself, representing a kind of emotional and physical cage from which Myra must break free.

Themes: Desire, Rebellion, and Generational Conflict

A sensitive exploration of the emotional and psychological journey of a young woman finding her own voice.

  • The Female Gaze on Desire: The film is a powerful look at female desire, not from a male point of view, but from the raw, authentic perspective of a young woman herself.

  • The Unspoken Conflict: The film explores the complicated and often unspoken conflict between a mother and a daughter. It delves into themes of jealousy, control, and the idea of a parent living vicariously through their child.

  • Rebellion and Independence: Myra’s journey is one of rebellion against both the rules of the school and the emotional control of her mother. The film is about the courage it takes to become your own person and define your own desires.

  • Coming of Age: The film is a timeless and universal story about the transition from girlhood to womanhood and the emotional and physical changes that come with it.

Key Success Factors: A Strong Debut and a Powerful Story

The film’s strength lies in its emotional honesty, its beautiful cinematography, and the powerful performances of its leads.

  • An Authentic Narrative: The film’s story feels real and authentic, avoiding melodrama and opting for a naturalistic portrayal of its characters and their relationships.

  • The Newcomer Preeti Panigrahi: As the lead, Preeti Panigrahi gives a captivating and emotionally raw performance that has been praised by critics.

  • Director's Vision: Shuchi Talati’s assured and sensitive direction, especially for a debut feature, has been hailed as a triumph.

  • Critical Acclaim: The film's premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and its numerous awards have established it as one of the best independent films of the year.

Awards and Nominations: A Sundance Sensation

The film has been a big winner on the festival circuit, winning multiple awards for its bold vision and powerful performances.

  • The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition.

  • It also won the Special Jury Award for Acting, with Preeti Panigrahi and Kani Kusruti both sharing the honor.

  • The film's awards at Sundance have made it a critical darling and a major new voice in independent cinema.

Critics Reception: Beautiful and Unflinching

Critics have overwhelmingly praised the film as a brave and essential piece of work that offers a new perspective on the coming-of-age story.

  • Variety: A review from this publication called the film an "unflinching story of awakening" and praised it as an "unusually confident and mature debut."

  • The Hollywood Reporter: The review hailed the film as a "tender, delicate" portrait of its characters and praised the director for her "patient, observational style."

  • Deadline: This review called the film a "sensitively directed and well-acted" drama that is both "poignant" and "thought-provoking."

Overall Summary: The critical reception is highly positive, with a strong consensus that the film is a masterfully directed and acted drama that tackles its themes with grace and honesty.

Reviews: A Quiet but Powerful Watch

Reviewers were moved by the film's authenticity and its unique approach to a familiar subject.

  • Many reviewers were captivated by the film’s portrayal of a mother-daughter relationship that is both loving and destructive.

  • The film’s sensitive handling of female sexuality and desire was also a major point of praise.

Overall Summary: The film is seen as a refreshing and original take on a coming-of-age story, with a quiet power that makes it a must-watch.

Why to Watch This Movie: A New Voice in Cinema

Watch it for its honest portrayal of female relationships and a stunning debut from a promising new director.

  • A Film with a Unique Perspective: If you are a fan of coming-of-age stories told with a different lens, this film offers a powerful and raw look at a young woman’s emotional journey.

  • A Masterclass in Acting: The performances of the lead actresses are captivating and beautiful to watch.

  • A Critical Darling: The film's Sundance success is a testament to its quality and makes it an essential watch for fans of independent cinema.

Movie Trend: Indian Indie Cinema

The film is part of the trend of "Indian indie cinema" that is breaking away from Bollywood conventions to tell small, intimate, and emotionally rich stories. This trend has seen a rise in films that focus on realistic themes, character development, and a naturalistic style, gaining critical acclaim at international film festivals.

Social Trend: Reclaiming Female Narrative

The film taps into the social trend of reclaiming female narratives, telling stories about women’s desires, bodies, and emotional lives from their own perspective. This movement, which has gained significant momentum in the film world, seeks to counter male-dominated narratives and give voice to the unspoken experiences of women. The film's focus on a young woman’s emotional and sexual awakening is a powerful reflection of this trend.

Final Verdict: A Breathtaking and Essential Film

A stunning, intimate, and emotionally resonant debut that is both a beautiful love story and a profound look at the complexities of female relationships. Girls will be girls is a triumph of independent filmmaking. With a confident and sensitive hand, director Shuchi Talati has crafted a film that is a quiet masterpiece. It is a must-watch for its powerful performances, its honest portrayal of love and family, and its beautiful cinematography. It is an essential and important work that marks a major new voice in cinema.

 

Commentaires

Subscribe Form

Thanks for submitting!

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

©2020 by DailyEntertainmentWorld. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page