First off, I'm a dad witnessing this revolution for my 3 girls all at the same time. TikTok, Youtube, they want to be grown up.. they want to be 10 years older. They mimic videos, they mimic trends. And knowing how to guide them on this journey is hard. This film is an homage to a young girl's journey into adulthood.
When i see my girls experimenting with their lifelong journey into sexuality and womanhood, the last thing i want to do is curse them for it. I just do my absolute best to support. Give advice on the fringe stuff in a dad way. Dissuade them from believing that any of the far out stuff is normal.
This film has been an absolute delight to watch, if (as always) difficult at times. All three of my girls are becoming women, and although they have another good few years, they just want to have fun, emulating things they see, being popular, growing. Its not a sin to put these things in a film. I abhor the tiny minority of people who may take something sinister and over sexual from this film. In the same way a murderer may love a murder film too much. But these girls are my life. And the girls in this film are just portayals of every girl this age.
Times get tougher. The internet gets larger. The influences get stronger. The friends they have in school get more critical. But they are the same journey.
I really start to doubt the overcompensation that some of the haters of this film project. When i see my daughters dancing how they deem sexy, Im not thinking of them like that.. i see 3 innocent girls trying to grow up. When the first thought that a society has on seeing young girls dancing with tight clothes is that the director is suspect... i have to turn my suspicions on the reviewers. What made you think of these thoughts first before thinking of a kids journey? Why did you instantly think of nefarious things? I'd advise people to check your hard drives myself when you come so strongly with no appreciation for the innocence this film depicts.
This is a beautiful film. Its a testament to the trials girls this age go through, and trust me, its getting worse. To define yourself in this age is hard enough.. on the subject of sexuality, with all the access to illicit material on the web and the Tate mentality blemishing our schools.. its hell.
Im just doing my best as a dad to be a sound minded guide. But these girls in this film are going through some of the same patterns of thought as mine have done, and they are fortunate to have a loving caring father (i don't like to sing my own praises but i am what i am).
This film is a window into that world nothing more. To the wretched who take something more from it in a dire way... to the echelons of hell for you. To the most of us, the best of us, the rest of us... This is a very very good film about what it means to be an 11 yr old trying to fit into this crazy messed up world in the best way they can.
Thats the only way this film should be judged. I think its great. But i have to admit.. im scared beyond belief to be a dad these days.
