Les galériennes

...during the film festival. It was an interesting film. In the Q&A after the movie, the director said that this movie was inspired by a story she read about real girls who were selling favors at the mall in exchange for money, clothes, etc. She said that she interviewed real girls who were doing this, but that the people in this movie are actresses and not real teen prostitutes. It wasn't as shocking as the 90's movie "Kids", but from comments made during the Q&A, this sort of behavior is very shocking in Poland. I think in many areas in the US/Canada, it is also shocking, but perhaps not completely unexpected. I think that the sexual situations happen a lot everywhere, but perhaps not the payment after the act. Overall, I think it was pretty believable and the teen actors/actresses were pretty convincing.

This film is about the life of a young village girl after moving to a big city. She meets new friends, who influences her to a life of spiralling depravity.

"Mall Girls" tells the miserable life of Ala, who has no friends after moving to a city. She desperately clings onto dubious peers who treats her like equal, doing things that she would normally not do. As a result, her life spirals out of control. The way she throws her life away is so sad. It is raw and heartbreaking. I find the portrayal of the three malls girls very three dimensional, especially Milena. Her reason for her tormented soul is shown through a heart to heart with Ala, which is emotionally gripping. The ending of the film is tragic but satisfying.

"Mall Girls" is an extraordinarily disturbing portrayal of troubled youths. Maybe it can serve as an alarm call as to what our world is doing to shape the young adults.