All Over Me
Directed by Alex Sichel
Written by Sylvia Sichel
Playing at independent cinemas
Review by Becky Ellis
"Grrrls go through some serious shit!" So states the publicity flyer about All Over Me, an excellent coming-of-age film about young women trying to deal with their lives. Claude (Allison Folland) is 15 years old and lives in the rough Hell's Kitchen district of New York City with her mother.
Claude has an intense friendship with Ellen (Tara Subkoff), with whom she used to dream of starting a band. But now Ellen has a sexist jerk of a boyfriend, and suddenly Claude is pushed to one side.
Claude is obviously in love with Ellen, and doesn't quite know what to do about it. Sometimes, it seems that Ellen feels more than friendship for Claude, but refuses to admit it.
The tension between Claude and Ellen's boyfriend is very strong. They are jealous of each other because each is getting from Ellen something the other wants.
This tension grows when Claude's neighbour, Luke, is murdered. Claude suspects Ellen's boyfriend is involved, which causes the further deterioration of Claude and Ellen's friendship. Meanwhile, Claude begins to find support, confidence and love within the riotgrrl (feminist punk rock) scene.
I have never seen a movie which more realistically documents what it's like to be a young woman dealing with life. Claude and Ellen are forced to deal with painful intense friendships, scary but exciting new relationships, parents that just don't get it and not fitting in.
Claude and Ellen both feel very awkward and confused — a universal feeling for young people. Claude is torn between her old friend whom she loves and her own need to be happy.
Ellen, like so many young women, seems to judge her self-worth by her boyfriend, who is abusive and gets her into hard drug abuse. While she desperately needs and clings to Claude, she also likes the excitement of the relationship with her boyfriend.
It is refreshing to see women, particularly young women, portrayed as real people. There are no caricatures or stereotypes, no Hollywood glossing over of the gritty reality of young women's lives. Ellen and Claude aren't rich, aren't full of witty one-liners, aren't glamorously perfect and don't live fantasy lives. They are intelligent, funny, awkward, confused, passionate and screwed up. At last: a film that doesn't insult or patronise young women.
Sylvia and Alex Sichel, the sister duo responsible, have done a praiseworthy job. The actors are excellent; Allison Folland and Tara Subkoff portray Claude and Ellen tenderly yet painfully.
This movie clearly highlights the way in which young women are alienated and receive very little support from anyone. Parents and teachers are either too busy, too out of it, too authoritarian or too judgmental to offer real guidance.
In the case of Ellen, society ruins young women's self-esteem, teaching them to tie their self-worth to their looks and attention from men. Then it condemns them for their "slutty" or "wild" behaviour and gives little support when they need help.
All Over Me also shows how lonely and hard it is to be a young gay man, lesbian or bisexual. Because of homophobia, they can rarely talk about their feelings to parents, teachers or friends for fear of rejection, harassment and violence. Media rarely portray young gay men or lesbians in a positive, accepting light, and the gay and lesbian community often seems too busy with living a lifestyle based on the "pink dollar" to notice the turmoil youth go through.
All Over Me is set against the riotgrrl culture of New York City, which provides a vibrant and exhilarating backdrop. Although riotgrrl culture tends to be individualistic (punk has its political roots in anarchism, after all), it plays a powerful role in giving Claude strength, support and, very importantly, self-confidence.
The soundtrack includes excellent women bands and artists such as Babes in Toyland, The Murmurs, Ani Difranco, and The Patti Smith Group.
Highly recommended.