“Sad Girlz” Explores Consent, Friendship, and Vulnerability in the World of Competitive Swimming
A powerful new film, “Sad Girlz” (Chicas Tristes), is poised to spark crucial conversations about consent, the complexities of female friendship, and the often-overlooked vulnerabilities within the world of competitive sports. The debut feature from Fernanda Tovar premiered Saturday, February 14, at the Berlin International Film Festival as part of the Generation 14plus program.
The film centers on Paula and La Maestra, two 16-year-old swimming prodigies training to represent Mexico at the Junior Pan American Swimming Championships. Their inseparable bond is tested after a night out when an incident forces them to confront difficult questions and choose between silence and speaking out.
Tovar, known for her previous short films including “My Age, Yours, and the Age of the World,” “The Fire We’ve Built,” and “I Want to Violently Crash Into the Windshield of Love,” crafted a narrative that delves into the emotional landscape of young women. The film features Rocio Guzmán as Maestra and Darana Álvarez as Paula, alongside a supporting cast including Tatsumi Milori, Tomás García-Agraz, and Mónica del Carmen.
According to a synopsis, the pivotal event unfolds when Paula finds herself alone with a friend, Daniel, amidst a party atmosphere. “Amid reggaeton, flirting and shots, Paula and Daniel slip into the bathroom together. Soon after, La Maestra senses that something has changed.” This moment sets in motion a journey of self-discovery and a challenging exploration of consent.
The film doesn’t shy away from the difficult aftermath. “They try to name the experience, and what they find feels devastating,” the synopsis reveals. “As the two girls respond in different ways, their bond is put to the test.” Tovar’s intention was to portray the nuanced and often painful process of navigating such experiences.
The director’s own reflections on womanhood heavily influenced the film’s themes. “Growing up, I thought women were sad in general,” Tovar shared in press notes. “I saw sadness as a characteristic of womanhood in a way, and even growing up in Mexico with the dramatic influences of the telenovela culture, I never knew why exactly that was. I guess Sad Girlz both shows and hides that reason.”
Tovar emphasized the remarkable chemistry between Álvarez and Guzmán, noting that an improvised scene between the two actresses was so compelling it was incorporated into the final cut. “They had the right amount of both complicity and confrontation, which was needed,” she stated. The director also described a rigorous rehearsal process designed to build trust between the actors, even participating in vulnerability exercises herself.
Interestingly, Tovar observed a keen awareness from the male actors during rehearsals. “They suspected something was wrong with the character of Paula, but they didn’t know, so they improvised around it very well,” she noted, highlighting the cast’s sensitivity to the film’s delicate subject matter.
The choice of swimming as the backdrop for the story was deliberate. Tovar explained that she wanted to address how conversations around gender violence often neglect fundamental needs like “What about our spaces? What about our dreams?” She further elaborated that swimming inherently creates a unique vulnerability. “It’s a sport that makes you vulnerable in a way that not many sports do – you not only have to undress in front of others, but you also have to be in your swimsuit at all times. The bodily relationship to swimming is different from other sports, which I felt gave some vulnerability to the film and to the characters.”
In a world increasingly reliant on technology, “Sad Girlz” also touches upon the limitations of artificial intelligence in addressing deeply human issues. Tovar cautions that “There is no human empathy and no warmth,” and believes that as AI advances, “the human aspects of life will become increasingly precious.” This theme is visually represented in a recently released clip from the film, where Paula and La Maestra seek guidance from both ChatGPT and tarot cards. You can view the exclusive clip here.
“Sad Girlz” is a production of Colectivo Colmena, in co-production with Potenza Producciones, Promenades Films, Martini Shot Films, and CTT Exp & Rentals, with Alpha Violet handling world sales. The film promises to be a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant exploration of friendship, consent, and the search for answers in a complex world.
