This short film opens in a very arresting manner. Two male employees play some sort of game with a female employee, which is essentially a mock rape. Our lead character, Shelly, watches this unseen, but is later mocked by her teenage female coworkers for not having been hazed in this way. Although it is a particularly lurid depiction, it instantly captures a modern world heavily influenced by pornography and sexuality, and a world in which teenage girls seek acceptable from peers and from their value as defined by those that desire them. If that sounds pompous then it is good that people much cleverer than I made this film, because it is handled tremendously here.
The film has a simple narrative perhaps, but it is the layering of the issues and the characters into this narrative that makes the film so rich. We get to see the reality of Shelly, but also the imagination and pressures she feels. Seeing all sides of this makes a rich picture which keeps the detail of a convincing character, but also effectively captures the end products of an entire culture based around desirability and value from sexuality. The film is depressing in this way, but also deeply informed and well- constructed; it doesn't preach to the viewer but it is hard not to come away from it with a lot more appreciation for the pressures and influences on teenage boys and girls – even if the specifics may vary.
Wilson is brilliant in the lead role. She is totally believable as someone trying to fit in, and she sells her performance whether she is being unsure of her physically and emotionally, or when she is exuding a sexual confidence that is entirely superficial. It is a really strong performance. The technical delivery of the film is impressive too – particularly for the low budget; it uses its locations and shots incredibly well to create atmospheres or add certain pressures to scenes. I was not totally convinced by the ending of the film (or maybe better to say I didn't totally get it), but I still appreciated it for what it did. A really great short film that is very much worth the 22 minute running time.
