Girls Like Girls
Warning: Suicide is mentioned and drug use. Not a movie for kids or teenagers!
This was a movie I was highly looking forward to. I read Girls Like Girls by Haley Kiyoko and watched the music video. However, while I could see the passion behind the storyline with Kiyoko’s introduction of the film, the film itself was in my opinion highly disappointing.
An element that Kiyoko did really well in her novel and the music video/song is the element of storytelling. We were able to see Coley and Sonya’s POV and how the environment they grow up in comes into play in shaping the characters and why they become who they are in those moments. However, it felt as if Coley had a hero complex to some degree and we weren’t able to see the other characters POV and there reasoning behind it, especially her dad. Coley’s dad is vital in Coley’s growth and while Kiyoko was able to give us both sides of the story, in the film it doesn’t translate well. Despite seeing some moments where her dad wants to build a relationship, the efforts/actions he takes are passive and I wish the movie did a better job of representing that relationship as it is a key role in Coley’s character development.
The movie also skipped over a bunch of critical moments in the book and out of respect for readers of the book or wanting to read, I won’t give those moments away, however the scenes of the poison ivy, Coley giving SJ her shirt when her “fling” abandons her. That was the perfect opportunity to give the audience a scene where Coley knows the friends Sonya hangs out with outside of her and Trenton. There was an exploration to expand the relationships and I felt that the writers played it too safe with the film. I understand there was only so much they could explore without getting an NC-17 rating, but I think the stakes weren’t risen enough.
Sonya was not written as well compared to the book. Now, I am glad they kept that she was a dancer and that her mother is critical. However, we didn’t see enough of her character go through exploration and growth. Kiyoko’s book highlights switching POVS between Coley and Sonya and the actions and lives of both characters without going overboard. I understand they didn’t want to do that without having the plot be too confusing/overwhelming to the audience, however it would’ve benefitted to have a scene to really dive deeper into Sonya’s life and really see how critical her mom is because there was only one scene and while she is reprimanding her for being late, in my opinion its justified and in the book, there’s evidence of how overwhelming it can be. There are moments where she is vulnerable and in the end chooses to break the cycle of self-loathing and I was disappointed we didn’t get that quiet moment. Also, dancing is a big part of her character and not getting that scene of her at dance camp was disappointing as her experience at dance camp is crucial to her development and not to include that was a let down and made the pacing of the film way too rushed as there were elements that would’ve grounded the movie and make it a complex film of young love and letting go of self-doubt/image everyone sees you as.
Despite the film being disappointing in my opinion, it didn’t come without its positives. The cinematography was gorgeous as the colors of the setting came to life. The directors did a great job of capturing the small town without having it be too rustic or too “plastic” looking. I was able to take in the quietness of the setting and the directors did a great job of capturing those moments. Every scene was pleasant to look at and they were able to use the lighting effectively to make sure they had the right tone to the scene. I also love how the quiet moments took there time, specifically when Coley is opening up to Sonya about her mother. The closeup and color palette they used was beautiful and I could feel the actresses pain and Sonya wanting to comfort her. It was a quiet moment that the filmmakers got right and I’m glad they did as it is a vulnerable moment in the book. The only sound we hear is the wind and the soft score. That, in my opinion should be how to capture a vulnerable scene, it was similar to Charlie telling Nick about his self-harm tendencies in the Heartstopper TV series/graphic novels and I wish those moments could’ve been more consistent in the film, specifically the ending.
The ending, while we do get that moment of them being together, there was no closure. It could’ve been a nice quiet moment, however the context of the film was lost and didn’t get the satisfying moment of Trenton getting his karma. Read the book to know what I mean.
This film in my opinion could’ve gone much farther. While I see the passion that went into the film, I think Kiyoko and Scott could’ve gone so much farther with the development of the characters and grounding them to where we see there journey and development over the course, similar to the book. In my opinion, the book is better and stick with that!