Sad Girlz

Sometimes danger doesn’t come from a stranger; sometimes sexual abuse doesn´t come from the old and powerful, sometimes it comes from a guy own our age, who seems nice but didn´t hear a “no”. Sad Girlz is a protest as hards as it gets, but in a colorfully wrapped teen world.

Dedicated, responsible Paula (Rocío Guzmán) and goofily naïve “La Maestra” (Danara Álvarez) are an inseparable teenage duo in Coapa, a lower-class Mexico City suburb. Competition level  swimmers and amateur dancers, they flirt, study a little, take selfies and talk a lot in a busy, ordinary teen life. At a New Year Eve’s party, things get ugly and their whole life, even their friendship, is in danger. Suddenly the girls turn sad. Both are doubtful they can get justice or revenge.

Newcomer Fernanda Tovar, who directed the film, wants to be  a keen, not-judgmental observer. Common phrases like “report it to save others”  or  the father´s guilty “I didn´t protect you” are not in the script. The spotlight is on the victim — and hopefully survivor — of the crime, who wants, more than anything, not to be marked by the attack. Paula and La Maestra have a support network that includes a mystical junkie brother, a trans dance instructor, an empathetic father. With them it’s not neccesary to say things, just to understand the sudden sadness.

The perpetrator just goes on with his life, even wanting to hang out with the girl. His face is never shown in close-up; he remains on the periphery of Rosa Hadid Hernández’s intelligent cinematography. It is a subtle but effective way to show contempt for him. Water, not a fun element here but a competitive one in their lives, is shown also as a relaxing, calming element.

The main production company is Mexico’s Colectivo Colmena, which has a work model (not a business one) that has proved successful. Both its shorts and features are based on collaborative work — a commendable change in an ego-driven industry — mixing personal interest with social issues. The collective avoids special effects and artificial settings, but can boast great production values. Its features Todos los incendios, Lumbrensueño and Mostro, among others, have won awards in several important festivals. Sad Girlz has already began a path that hopefully will include a theatrical release in Mexico, where it can find its perfect audience in young Latin Americans.

The end is, like much in life, a compromise, but one that allows the girls to go on with their lives. Maybe the best revenge is to be happy.

Direction, screenplay: Fernanda Tovar
Producers: Daniel Loustaunau, Carlo D’Ursi, Samuel Chauvin
Cast: Rocío Guzmán, Darana Álvarez, Tatsumi Milori, Tomás García Agraz,
Mónica del Carmen
Cinematography: Rosa Hadit Hernández
Music: Wissam Hojeij, Carolina Torres, Sebastián Cárdenas Vesga
Editing: José Pablo Escamilla
Sound: Alejandro Castillo, Eva Valiño
Production design: Selva Tulián
Production companies: Colectivo Colmena (Mexico), Potenza Producciones (Spain), Promenade Films (France)
Venue: San Sebastian Film Festival (Horizontes Latinos)
In Spanish
Running time: 90 min