Emily Mody - I Like Girls (NFB Short)

Posted on Monday, February 05, 2018 at 09:00 AM

I Like Girls (NFB Short)

Review by Emily Mody x CalgaryMovies.com

I Like Girls is a short, animated film directed by Diane Obomsawin. It follows four distinct stories from four women. The narrators describe defining moments including first kisses, first love, sexual expression and what these moments meant to them. The film also examines issues regarding acceptance and self love in a light hearted portrayal.

The animation style is unique, in that it is not beautiful or elegant in its expression. It allows for a less sophisticated and more comedic understanding of the story. It emphasizes laughter and joy at the prospect of discovering ourselves. I think that, too often, stories about people finding out they are homosexual are taken much too seriously and are sometimes given a somewhat tragic spin. I really enjoyed how I Like Girls shows us the complexities that are a part of all of our lives. Sure, there are always aspects that will be trying and hard but by painting it with humour, we can take away some of the heaviness that we all face.

Something about I Like Girls reminded me of the animated film, Triplets of Belleville directed by Sylvain Chomet. I believe the similarities stem from the music and the light hearted animation style that almost pokes fun at the characters. The animation in Triplets of Belleville stills leaves its characters human, although largely exaggerated. Whereas, I Like Girls depicts the characters as animals which, I suppose, is meant to provide an emotional distance. This technique also takes a potentially controversial topic and makes it more gentle in its portrayal. The animation style for I Like Girls follows in the traditional animation of all of Diane Obomsawin’s animated films. If you have seen any of her other work including Kaspar, Elbow Room, or Here and There you will have a good idea of what to expect from this one.

I would recommend I Like Girls to anyone who has an interest in personal stories about homosexual relationships. I realize that sounds very specific but I think many people have something to gain from watching this film. It has some very important messages on how to view life even if you yourself do not have or share similar experiences to the ones that are discussed. It is perhaps important to note, that there is discussion of sexual exploration and sexual expression all involving homosexual women. While not explicit in nature, it is still very much present so if you are a sensitive viewer it is good to be aware of that before you watch it.

Personally, I found I Like Girls very enjoyable and fun to watch. The animation style is unique and refreshing. In light of such trying times in society I think that this short is a good way to laugh at ourselves and our own personal discoveries. I Like Girls runs a total of eight minutes.

You can view this short in its entirety with a CAMPUS subscription at the National Film Board of Canada’s website: https://www.nfb.ca/film/i_like_girls/

Calgary Showtimes: I Like Girls >