Paula

A certain kind of darkness hides in the shines of glitter that Paula and her friends wear on their faces; a sadness corrodes. Paula opens our gaze to the dense world of a pressing, complex and urgent issue. In a world where bodies are a measure of value and an object of permanent opinion, the protagonist takes us to the difficult corners she goes through, allowing us to walk with her in a loving and human way, away from the pamphlet and denunciation speeches. The intimacy with which the director invites us to be part of the world of the protagonist, the relationship with her environment and especially with her friends gives us back a freshness that leaves the space for a little light to sneak into that overwhelming race for wanting to fit in, typical of adolescence.

Paula invites us to think, to dance, to suffer and to understand a state of things that must be rethought.

Paula is an amazing, melancholic, and heartbreaking film that hits a little too close to home. Insightful, thoroughly well-written, and amazingly acted. Writer-director Wehbe perfectly depicts what it means to be a teen girl with honesty and realism. The film touches delicate subjects in a very relatable way. And it doesn't hurt that the young cast has unbelievable chemistry. The main character, Paula, is masterfully portrayed, and the rest of the cast accompanied her beautifully. The friends and family form a real bond with the main character. It is also a beautiful film, with all the colors and music that a movie about teenagers should have.

This is the first movie we saw during Sofia International Film Fest 2023. The topic is social and important, but poorly executed. I do not know whose daughter the Director is, neither why the movie is in the selection. The attempt to save money from proper sound, thinking that half a silent movie, half a music video may pass as a genius creative idea, backfires. Youth is no excuse for half-done work, even when it comes to arts.

The characters' arcs lead nowhere and there is no development or resolutions by the end of the movie.

It is nice to pay critics so they can write a statement for something so mediocre. But it is even more nice if the critics have seen the movie themselves before writing anything. I am genuinely surprised that this movie has win awards.