Rob Munday
Although I’m a big fan of coming-age-stories, they do sometimes lack a little originality. Looking to remedy this is surreal comedy Peeps, a short exploring secret lives and the risks we have to take to show our true selves, from writer/director Sophie Somerville. Throughout the film’s 18-minute duration we follow a quintet of girls around a shopping mall, switching perspective and trying to unravel the complex dynamics at play, while the birds in the rafters provide hilariously insightful narration.
“I wanted a unique take on a coming of age story that played with form in a way that was light, accessible and entertaining”
Inspired to pen Peeps when she was “trying to write something that represented the complexity and the varied experiences of teenage girlhood”, Somerville found herself constantly distracted by the sparrows living in the roof of her local shopping centre and so decided to “smoosh” the two together. Aiming to create “a unique take on a coming of age story”, the director reveals she set out to “play with form in a way that was light, accessible and entertaining”.
She achieves this in a number of ways, each of which add to the surreal tone and consistent comedy of the piece. The decision to have avian narrators may seem like a gimmick, but it’s surprisingly effective. As they look down upon these strange creatures living below them, they provide a cutting commentary which peels the layers of the individuals and reveals their deepest secrets. While cutting the film into chapters allows us to enjoy the individuality of these five adolescent girls, as how their personalities change along with the dynamic in the group. “By dividing the film into parts dedicated to each character I wanted to play with how young people think they are the protagonist of their own story”, Somerville explains.
For Anna, a revelation about her favourite teacher will disrupt her day.
Shot “guerrilla-style” in the shopping centre, the production also helps to amplify the off-kilter vibe emanating from Peeps. There’s a casual, authentic feel to Somerville’s short, with the director admitting that “the film’s chaotic, spontaneous nature came out of having to work under intense time pressure”, with most of the dialogue created “collaboratively in rehearsal with the girls”. It all comes together in post though, with an inflated classical score really exaggerating the drama of the piece to comedic effect. Peeps is a bold swing from director Somerville, but it’s one she lands with confidence and style and the result is a fresh and hugely enjoyable short that hits the sweet spot between experimental and accessible.
After a festival run which saw the short screen at Telluride, NFFTY and more, we’re proud to host the online premiere of Peeps here on Short of the Week today. Next up for Somerville, she’s working on a feature as well as being in early development for a teen comedy TV series.