A bit too deliberately quirky but has a tougher core that stops it being just a load of "indie spirited" clichés

Opening with a sense of the quirkiness of the short may seen to put us firmly in indie coming-of-age comedy drama territory (and you'd be partly right) but to then follow that with a darker scene where a girl appears to hang herself in a depiction of how she feels her classmates view her suggests that there may be more to this than that. The truth is a combination which never really breaks out of genre territory but does at least fit in comfortable rather than feeling like just a shorter, cheaper copy of other work. The plot sees Esther reaching the point of puberty on the same day as being told her nose is too big and therefore she is ugly. Going home needing support and guidance, all she finds is her grandfather who has advice, although perhaps not the most delicate.

There is a overly quirky tone to this film which is deliberate – the time of year, the Halloween costumes, the quirky grandfather, the odd choice of pet etc and I was braced not to really like it because of how hard it seemed to be pushing for "quirky indie spirit" rather than just letting it happen. However this is reasonably well countered with a slightly harder edge which pushes back with some scenes where the tone is a little less quirky and more practical – in particular the final shots. This doesn't totally save the film from being a collection of quirks, but it does add more substance in there.

The film is well shot and looks good throughout. Aspros and Pinsent both work well together although I would have liked a bit more time and material for both. Generally it works – it is very much a genre piece and familiar as a coming-of-age tale, but it just about has enough about it to be more than just the sum of its quirks.

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

Insecure thirteen year-old Esther Weary is on the brink of puberty and must come to terms with the realities of becoming a woman with her well-meaning grandpa and his pet pug.

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