GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS is a brilliant, richly layered romantic film that has won countless awards. Directed by Shuchi Talati, it masterfully explores the subtle complexities of a 16-year-old girl’s coming-of-age desires and sexual awakening.
Set in the 1990s, the film finds 16-year-old Mira at her strict private boarding school atop a Himalayan mountainscape in India. Mira is straitlaced and must navigate good grades, her budding romance with a handsome 17-year-old boy, and an unwelcome emotional love triangle involving her mother.
Talati’s command in directing such a nuanced narrative is elevated by her empathetic gaze, which flawlessly captures the fascinating triangular relationship between Mira, the mother, and Sri the boyfriend. The impeccable script, sensitive storytelling, and warm cinematography reinforce the strong focus on female empowerment at the film’s core.
Giving her characters shading and the story space to breathe, Talati has created a quietly captivating, sharply observed and insightful film. A loss of innocence may propel the story, but what ultimately emerges is a hopeful transformation of the main characters.
“Bursting with creative energy and distinctive aesthetic sensibilities.” – Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter
“A Stylish Medley of Generations and Dreams” – Valerie Complex, Deadline
