Girls Will Be Girls
September 27 - October 3, 2024
16-year-old Mira crashes headfirst into teenage love, her country’s oppression of female sexual agency, and her own mother’s stifled desires in this stellar debut feature from Shuchi Talati that won the World Cinema Audience Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
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“A resonant and impeccably written film on generational female awakening, mother-daughter affection and rivalry, and bodily autonomy, Girls Will Be Girls is exactly the kind of feminine coming-of-age film (for any age) that we need more of.”—Tomris Laffly, Bazaar
To leave girlhood behind and ascend into womanhood is a beautiful experience. But first you have to deal with complex emotions, changing bodies, and raging hormones. Ask any girl and they will tell you the biggest hurdle to overcome is Mom. Straightlaced 16-year-old Mira (Preeti Panigrahi) must navigate good grades, her first crush, and an unwelcome emotional love triangle with the woman who raised her (Kani Kusruti). This complicated relationship between a mother who wants to regain her youth and a daughter who craves independence is surprisingly cozy (the 4:3 aspect ratio helps). Its sensitive storytelling and warm cinematography are reminiscent of an adolescent memory come to life, with a strong focus on female empowerment at its core. Don’t worry, there is plenty of teenage awkwardness to embarrass you by proxy. Because growing up is never easy and, as Girls Will Be Girls lovingly depicts, sometimes the way isn’t always clear.
—Sandra Woolf
- Director: Shuchi Talati
- Principal Cast: Preeti Panigrahi, Kani Kusruti, Kesav Binoy Kiron
- Country: India, France, United States, Norway
- Year: 2024
- Running Time: 118 min.
- Producer: Richa Chadha, Claire Chassagne, Shuchi Galati
- Screenplay: Shuchi Talati
- Cinematographers: Jih-E Peng
- Editors: Amrita David
- Music: Sneha Khanwalkar
- Website: Official Film Website
- Awards: Sundance Film Festival 2024 (World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting, Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic)
- Filmography: Debut Feature Film
- Language: English, Hindi
- Has Subtitles: Yes
- US Distributor: Juno Films
- International Sales: Luxbox Films