Girls Will Be Girls
2024 · Directed by Shuchi Talati
Original language: Hindi
- drama
- romance
The story
In a strict boarding school nestled in the Himalayas, 16-year-old Mira discovers desire and romance. But her sexual, rebellious awakening is disrupted by her mother who never got to come of age herself.
What it’s like
Cool, misty mountain light filters through dormitory windows and wooden corridors, with a muted palette of greens, greys and worn school uniforms that gives the film a hushed, lived-in feel. Its camera tends to hold on faces and small domestic gestures, often in static or slowly drifting frames, and the sound is mostly ambient: rain on tin roofs, distant bells, the rustle of fabric, with a sparse score that surfaces only at emotional turns. The mood is tender and quietly tense, a coming-of-age drama with a bittersweet undertow, the kind of slow, observant watch that suits a rainy afternoon or a late evening alone. Pacing is unhurried, with long pauses between scenes, and the emotional arc follows a restless teenager and her mother as each wrestles with the limits placed on desire and freedom. Romantic and sexual themes are handled with frankness and some intimate scenes, but there is no graphic violence and little gore; tension comes from emotional confrontation rather than shock. It suits viewers who appreciate female-led stories, intimate character drama and thoughtful, restrained filmmaking.
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