Céline Roustan
Sometimes, a moment that initially appears mundane can end up leaving a lasting impact. Situations are often nuanced and an experience may feel wrong in a way we can’t quite explain – leaving behind feelings that can range from unpleasant to traumatic. This is the reality Dylan faces in You Know You Wanna Stay, the latest short film from writer/director and S/W alum Alex Heller (Holiday House). Subtle yet poignant, the film cleverly captures a complex event that triggers an unshakeable discomfort – and rightfully so.
“I’ve never known how to explain it because it seemed like, on paper, it wasn’t ‘that bad’”
“I think many of us share a feeling of an older person taking advantage of our affections, and us being too young to understand that it wasn’t our fault”, Heller explains when discussing the inspiration behind the film. She also revealed that the narrative for You Know You Wanna Stay came from a real experience she had as a high school freshman – one that affected her and her self-esteem. “I’ve never known how to explain it because it seemed like, on paper, it wasn’t ‘that bad’”, she admits. This reflection prompted her to pen the screenplay with a focus on her own perspective through the evening, allowing the audience to process the narrative and “decide if they think it’s bad or not”.
Despite the nostalgic visual aesthetic crafted by production designer Savannah Birnbaum, the film has a timeless quality that makes it universal, especially for women. The screenplay is also incredibly smart in that regard – from the way Heller depicts the situation to how she wrote the dialogue – making it all the more engaging for a wide audience of different generations. Through its subtlety, the film surprises with its depth – from the power dynamics at play to the difference between what the audience is able to grasp and what the protagonists, caught up in the moment, are too close to see.
Elsie Fisher excels in the lead role of Dylan in You Know You Wanna Stay
While we do understand his perspective, it’s her journey that the film chronicles and her painful realization through that unfortunate event. From the cinematography by DP Brody S. Anderson (who also shot Holiday House and previous S/W pick Slow Vine) to the edit by David Brown (who we’re more used to seeing in front of the camera in shorts like Slow Vine, See Saw and Holiday House), we are immersed in how she is perceiving him, the situation, and all the conflicting feelings bubbling up inside of her. Her vulnerability is at the center of the film, and despite the tone of the film, it ends with a certain empowering feeling that offers a glimmer of hope.
In the lead role, Elsie Fisher gives a remarkable performance – one which I believe is more powerful than previous roles which have earned them critical acclaim. Their chemistry with Russell Kahn, who plays Bobby (in addition to being credited as a producer on the film), feels so authentic, creating a confusing mix of feelings so quintessential to those teenage years, while also clearly establishing their power dynamic. Fisher nails the blend of confusion, betrayal, deceit and anger so poignantly, truly allowing the nuances Heller wanted to portray to fully resonate with the audience. In one especially striking close-up – without a single line of dialogue – they are able to convey all the complexity of the moment, while also showing Dylan’s vulnerability. They truly capture the gray area at the center of the film, making the question “did something bad happen?” irrelevant, and instead shifting our focus to how deeply the experience is affecting Dylan.
You Know You Wanna Stay had its online debut on Vimeo, after winning the Staff Pick Award at the 2025 edition of the Palm Springs ShortFest, where the film had its World Premiere. Heller is currently “doing a lot of writing”, and hoping to direct her second feature next year, while planning to continue making shorts in between feature projects.