My Time is the latest short film from director Giulia Gandini currently sweeping through film festivals worldwide. On the face of it, My Time is about a young girl getting her first period. But as myself and every other person who has gone through this ritual knows, it is really about much more than simple biology and it is those deeper themes that this film briefly explores.
We’re focused primarily on Ava (Clara Read), who sits in class waiting to give a presentation on her favourite fictional hero when she realises that she has just gotten her first period. I would venture that most maiden voyages into menstruation tend to occur somewhere private, but the fear of getting one’s period in public seems to permeate like a bad urban legend (e.g. “My friend’s cousin got their period in gym class!” followed by gasps of horror). The film plays out in real time, while Ava tries to figure out some way to manage her ‘situation’ and still give her presentation, all without letting anyone, especially her (presumably cis) male teacher know. Despite a few nitpicks, My Time is a fabulous little film, highlighting a major area of anxiety for 50% of the population.
Who Likes Short Shorts? We Like Short Shorts!
I spend a lot of time watching short films and my number one advice to filmmakers is always keep it short, preferably under 10 minutes. The temptation to draw out these films seems too much to resist for many filmmakers, so it’s great to see Gandini hone her focus and keep it simple. My opinion is that the best shorts often pick a single point of conflict and play it out, rather than trying to introduce multiple plot lines or too many characters. My Time is really just one scene and all the better for it. This keeps the pace moving swiftly and allows the stakes to build steadily, resulting in a more satisfying conclusion than if the film tried to mimic the beats of a feature.
This also puts more emphasis on the content of the single scene. This isn’t about the run up to getting a period, it’s not about the aftermath, it isn’t about how the rest of Ava’s school day went. This is just about this moment and how Ava deals with it. Despite getting a bit on the nose at the end, the message of female empowerment comes through strongly and more importantly, in a manner accessible to children, as this film is aimed at a younger audience.
It’s Got Character(s)
Gandini uses archetypical characters to achieve this: the teacher is a white man and you may draw your own conclusions about representations of the patriarchy from that as you please. The student who gives their presentation before Ava is also white and male, giving a presentation about a white male literary figure (Sherlock Holmes). All other characters of importance are identifiable as female. There’s obviously Ava, but there’s a Best Friend character, who sleeps through the crisis. Then there’s a Mean Girl, who realises Ava’s predicament and, rather than help her, begins whispering to the other classmates.
And finally there’s the young girl who, rather than laugh along with her classmates, reaches out to help Ava. This is classic Mom Friend territory. This girl will be the caregiver of other girls, and later other women, friend or no friend. I liked this moment because it so typified a particular aspect of my own (and I think anyone who menstruates) experience with situations like this. There is always someone who helps, because we all know the fear and panic of being in that scenario. This exchange matters. It’s the first moment Ava has someone supporting her. Though Ava draws inspiration from her favourite fictional character, I found this small gesture to be personally far more impactful and perhaps representative of a feminine bond standing up against “the man”.
Strong Overall
My Time conveys a readily understood and accessible story. The film isn’t bringing anything majorly new to the table but it is really great to see such a feminine gaze put on the subject matter. The only real issue I had with the film is that the final moments hit so hard upon the theme that it’s a bit twee. I personally think possibly leaving the subject of Ava’s presentation as a reveal until the very last shot (or even doing away with the reveal entirely) might have made the end feel a bit less on the nose.
However, My Time is eminently enjoyable and tackles important subject matter for people of all ages. I’m not surprised that it has been enjoying a very successful festival run and I look forward to seeing what Giulia Gandini has in store for the future.
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