There's often something wonderful that happens when a filmmaker decides to underplay their story. There's something magical that comes to life when the cast just plain "gets it" and realizes that real life is often found in our quieter moments where we decide who we are and where we're going. Writer/director Deborah Puette, making her solo directing debut, manifests a marvelous tone of natural intimacy with the six-minute short film Such a Pretty Girl. The film stars Sarah Drew (Grey's Anatomy) as Meg, who has returned to her childhood home to help her aging father (Harry Groener). When her 12-year-old, Finn (Cole Moreno), uncovers a long-forgotten relic from her past, Meg is faced with an almost immediate choice of who she'll protect - her parent or her child.
I've always loved Sarah Drew and she's absolutely sublime here as a mother whose story sort of bubbles underneath the surface. There's a lot that happens within the course of the film's six minutes, though much of it remains unspoken. We can see it in Drew's eyes and we can practically feel her physicality as Meg's vulnerability and strength simultaneously rise to the surface in a way that feels honest and truthful.
And then there is Moreno as Finn, who matches Drew's vulnerability and strength rather majestically. A cinematic newcomer, Moreno is a young trans actor whose performance feels so truthful one can feel the emotions coming across the screen.
There's a brief scene here where Finn returns to meeting grandfather's expectations.
It's heartbreaking. Truly.
As the father/grandfather, Harry Groener impresses in a similarly quiet and natural way. It's refreshing to have no characters demonized here, an intentional choice by Puette in this film inspired by similar experiences with her daughter.
In a certain way, every character represented here is trying be true to themselves. Our focus, of course, is Finn. However, there's a circle of life here that I can't help but think reminds us that this is so much what so many of us strive for in life - being accepted for who we are.
There are so many little moments here that resonate emotionally and physically. Puette has a deep desire to create a feature-length version of this story and one can only hope that happens. This is a story worth exploring with characters who deserve our attention. There's not an performer here I'd recast.
Such a Pretty Girl is beautifully lensed by Katharine White with a damn near perfect original score by Ali Helnwein that touchingly complements Puette's tender and meaningful story. Such a Pretty Girl had its world premiere in April at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival and should no doubt continue to have a successful indie fest journey.
Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic
