In Such a Pretty Girl, an utterly moving and quietly powerful short film, we’re treated to a simplistic and stunning story of a mother torn between her young child and aging father, a distinct line in the sand between generations, as she struggles to hold things together.
In Such a Pretty Girl, the utterly moving and quietly powerful short film from writer and director Deborah Puette, we’re treated to a simplistic and stunning story of a mother torn between her young child and aging father, a distinct line in the sand between generations, as she struggles to hold things together. With subtle nuance and tender expression, Puette weaves a complicated story in an uncomplicated way, moving me to tears in just a few short minutes.
Saying just enough with very little, we’re treated to a film that perfectly illustrates the difficulty of being the one in the middle. With her child in one room going against gender expectations and exploring their own path, and her father in the other with his stern and nonconforming beliefs echoing loudly, it’s as if we can feel her being torn between the strict rigidity of her upbringing, and the progressiveness of modern society allowing for happiness in finding oneself. Through facial expressions and no more words than are necessary, we get the full picture in just under a few seconds, and we can understand every layer and facet of her paradox.
The performances were both poignant and professional, especially on behalf of Sarah Drew and Harry Groener, but Cole Moreno really steals the show with such a sweet and heartfelt portrayal of an innocent soul caught in the crossfire. Lines are delivered with just enough power to resonate and expressions tell their own stories with so much as a furrowed brow or pursed lip.
The set design was on point, with the rooms themselves reflecting the characters within, and the framing of each shot is almost poetic, like moving portraits of life as opposed to a film. With such a unique lens and a ton of female power behind the camera, Such a Pretty Girl is a great feat of accomplishment that tells the world how powerful a woman’s point of view can be when telling representative stories of tenderness and emotion.
Closing with a sentimentally affecting resolution of finding a middle ground, it both moved me and left me wanting more, which is a fantastic conclusion for a short film, and I’m absolutely psyched to see the feature for which this short is a proof of concept. I wonder what happened after the credits rolled, and I found myself crying at how well the story was told in such a short runtime. Very moving, affecting and touching in every possible way.
Taking only 6 minutes to make a statement of a lifetime, and with softened visuals that match the tone of the story perfectly, Such a Pretty Girl is a beautiful, touching and vibrant testament to the dichotomy that is being a mother in a time between generations. I look forward to seeing more from everyone involved in this project, and they’re all ones to watch, as far as I’m concerned, with plenty left to say and the talent necessary to say it in a way that people will listen.
Bravo.