Céline Roustan

It’s Valentine’s Day and whether or not you choose to observe this so-called “Hallmark holiday”, you will celebrate this topical short film. An anthology of vignettes, I Like Girls sees renowned Quebecois animator Diane Obomsawin brings to the screen four different stories of first crushes, replete with their customary doses of teenage hormones, awkwardness, youthful energy, and self-discovery. Both funny and touching, we thought it would be the perfect pick for today when love is in the air.

Drawn off real-life experiences, Obomsawin asked lesbians about the first time they felt desire as young girls. She turned their stories into a graphic novel that later inspired the film. The four funniest, goofiest, most romantic and ultimately most entertaining tales made the cut to be brought to the screen. Charlotte, Mathilde, Marie and Diane share with us the intimate details of their first desires towards another girl. Despite the fact that they all had different experiences, from one sided, to reciprocated attraction, that familiar mix of intoxicating and confusing feelings, clumsily explored, is ever-present, making the film not only sweet but funny as well. The strength of the film is how the core of these coming-of-age vignettes has a universal appeal. The humorous tone of the direction makes it even more powerful by delivering a perfectly blended romantic comedy that never gets cheesy.

The characters of those stories are not portrayed by animated human beings, Obomsawin opted instead for anthropomorphic creatures. The animation style is rather minimal, but the use of pastel colors highlights the tender yet uplifting aspect of those stories without making the visuals too intense. Its whimsicality is perfect for the comedic tone and allows the stories to be more poignant and resonate with a wider audience by giving the content of the narration a stronger impact. Though the characters are not women, their motions are very human-like. Rotoscoping was used to create the movements of the creatures, giving a more authentic look to the more physical scenes that required a more sensual approach.

I Like Girls has had an incredible run on the festival circuit with selections at prestigious festivals such as Sundance, Annecy or Palm Springs. The NFB is releasing the film today as a great Valentine’s Day present to celebrate love and lovers everywhere.