“Girls Will Be Girls” Finds Honesty in Uncomfortable Moments

Girls Will Be Girls (Shuchi Talati, 2024) 4 out of 5 stars

In choosing the title for Girls Will Be Girls, writer/director Shuchi Talati (A Period Piece) takes a well-known phrase designed to excuse young men’s unruly behavior and flips it on its head. You will be pleased to learn that this is an apt summary of both the film and its intentions. Marking Talati’s feature-directorial debut, Girls Will Be Girls is a tense coming-of-age story that works on two levels: it illustrates both the evolving relationship between a mother and daughter and what happens when women are denied the chance to live carefree.

The story begins with Mira (Preeti Panigrahi, Jag Puran), a teenager entering her final year of boarding school in the Himalayas in the late 1990s. She is a brilliant Type-A scholar who prioritizes her studies above all else, thanks to the influence of her mother, Anila (Kani Kusruti, All We Imagine As Light). After years of hard work and dedication, Mira has achieved the illustrious rank of Head Prefect.

Ironically, this newfound authority has made it more difficult for Mira to gain the respect of her fellow students. Girls think she is a stickler for rules and boys want to peek up her skirt. Except for one: a charming diplomat’s son named Sri (Kesav Binoy Kiron), who invites her to his astronomy club. With Anila barring Mira from dating to avoid distractions, the two pose as study buddies to explore their feelings secretly. However, as Mira and Sri spend more time together, Anila grows suspicious of her daughter’s activities.

As the film progresses, friction grows between the two women. Anila wants to maintain the same bond the two had when Mira was growing up, even joining her in an impromptu dance scene early on. Unfortunately, Mira is embarrassed by her mother’s overbearing behavior and leans more towards Sri’s affections. Surprisingly, Anila finds herself modeling her daughter’s behavior, which makes for a series of uncomfortable interactions.

Thankfully, Talati avoids making anything too cliché or salacious with this premise. If anything, she shows a great deal of empathy for both women, focusing on how they grow from the experience. Panigrahi’s understated performance as Mira shows a young woman slowly stepping out of her comfort zone. She covers the full spectrum of curiosity, insecurity, fear, and even heartbreak. Kusruti carefully balances Anila’s need to reconnect with her desire for attention. She seriously oversteps at times, but she never feels outright villainous.

In the end, Girls Will Be Girls is a story about a mother and daughter with opposing worldviews molded by their respective upbringings. Their unexpected situation teaches them both the importance of boundaries and trust. Above all else, it reminds them that all they have is each other.

George W. Campbell

George W. Campbell is a director/screenwriter/editor from Bowie, Maryland, whose films focus on themes of family and personal relationships. As a Nicaraguan-American filmmaker, he aims to highlight specific parts of his culture and personal experiences (songs, dances, foods, and language).