“Paula: A Film Exploring Adolescent Body Image and Self-Acceptance”

By Maria Jose Contreras

Paula is an Argentine film by director Florencia Wehbe, released in 2022. The story follows the protagonist, whose name is the title of the film, a 14-year-old girl who is about to turn 15. Paula, played by Lucía Castro, goes through the anguish of adolescence, however, she also begins to face feminine stereotypes, which will make her go through a solitary path towards her bodily acceptance. The feature film was born as an opportunity to portray autobiographical experiences of the director herself, but later it became the story of many of hers.

The film was presented in the Official Section of the 48th Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival in 2022 and won the Colón de Plata Special Jury Award. It was also presented at the FEMCINE festival, which aims to provide a space to highlight both women filmmakers and films that address women’s issues.

Adolescence is a complex stage in which we begin to perceive ourselves, and the rest, in a different way. Other aspects begin to take place and we worry about matters that were not important before. Beauty standards are in our sight everywhere, on television, on cell phones, in the street, and even when we are with friends. Many times, bodily self-acceptance appears with prominence and leaves no room for anything else. That is the starting point for Paula. The film shows us a 14-year-old girl who begins adolescence and with it the 15-year-old parties, nights out, alcohol, excesses and romantic interest in the opposite sex. At the same time, she begins to compare her body, firstly, with her older sister, who in the eyes of society has her ideal appearance, a slim, tall and blonde girl. From there Paula creates an obsession for her physical image, and her main purpose is to lose weight.

The protagonist finds refuge by downloading an application on her cell phone, which promises to help her achieve her goal through radical tips to lose weight and forums in which people in the same situation share their experiences and encourage her to go further and further. . In this way, and without realizing it, Paula begins to subtly enter the dangerous world of anorexia. Despite the fact that she surrounds herself with true friends, she walks this path in a lonely and hermetic way. The same thing happens indoors, she is part of a classic family, with a father who is somewhat carefree of her daughters and a mother who is involved in certain matters of her life. Despite this, it seems that no one perceives what the young woman is going through.

The intimate interpretation given by the actress Lucía Castro allows us as viewers to feel part of her story, to deeply empathize with what is happening to her. A performance so natural that it goes from the protagonist to her own circle of friends, so much so that, at times, it seems that we are watching a story without a script, which places before us the pure essence of a complex age.

Beyond showing Paula’s story on the big screen, the film reminds us that there are thousands of other girls like her. We ourselves, our friends, or our relatives, women we love and care for may be going through a similar situation. The film is an invitation to talk about issues that touch us all and to leave the taboo that exists around our corporeality.

Datasheet

Title: Paula

Duration: 93 minutes

Premiere: 2022

Director: Florence Wehbe

Cast: Lucía Castro, Lara Griboff, Julieta Montes, Tiziana Faleschini, Liz Correa, Beto Bernuez, María Belén Pistone

Production companies: Co-production Argentina-Italy; Bombilla Cinema, The Piranesi Experience