What would you do on three Fridays? I couldn’t honestly tell you in our current pandemic times, but before all of this happened, it would’ve most probably been a trip to the cinema, drinks with friends, going to the beach, or some other plan that came by out of the blue. Some of these activities can still happen; however, there is a sentiment of disconnection as the world opens and closes every few months. For many teenagers, even if the pandemic wasn’t present, the world feels like that—a world full of detachment, and every moment can be amplified into an aching cessation.
Along similar lines come across the three main characters of Alli Haapasalo’s film, “Girl Picture.” They have something to hold on to (a friend, sport, an idea, etc.), albeit looking for something that will change their ways.
A Narrative Spread Across Three Fridays
The problem, if you could call it such, is that they don’t know precisely what will do that or when it will come. Those thoughts are not shown since they are premonitions inside their heads; nevertheless, the film develops them throughout its run-time. The film revolves around three women: Mimmi (Aamu Milonoff), Rönkkö (Eleonoora Kauhanen), and Emma (Linnea Leino). Mimmi and Rönkkö are best friends and always have each other’s back. They want to live a life full of experiences, passion, and encounters; yet something is holding them back in doing so. Meanwhile, Emma is on the other side of things; she has given her whole life to figure skating, and nothing will get between her and success (a chance at the European championship). The first encounter between the three is rough and edgy; Mimmi mocks Emma as she tries to order a smoothie.
During the first sequence in the film, we already see that Mimmi is quite distant; the only person we see her connecting with is Rönkkö. However, when both get invited to the house party of one of Emma’s friends in the suburbs, things go in a different direction emotionally. It opens new paths for the three gals, going through their own expeditions.
Mimmi and Emma experience the effects of first love while tackling their other problems such as family, abandonment, mental health, and life outside of a curriculum. At the same time, Rönkkö is on a quest to find pleasure—to find someone who can appreciate her. All of this happens between three Fridays; three weeks is all it takes for these women’s lives to change for the better. One might argue that three weeks isn’t enough time to fall in love; albeit when one’s young and it’s their first sensation of love, those three weeks can feel longer.
Great Chemistry Backed by Effervescent Performances
This structure makes the film feel more easygoing, in both good and bad aspects. On the positive side, the film delivers tons of funny entanglements and charismatic fizzy-esque teenybopper scenes, like the first time they go dancing, play laser tag, or even just have conversations about nothing. It also helps that the three actresses seem to have great chemistry and deliver effervescent performances. The fan-favorite amongst audiences will probably be Mimmi, also my favorite, with her edgy style, bright smile, and bleached eyebrows. As I mentioned earlier, she is distant at first; albeit once she reveals her true self to Emma, you get attached to her as a character. Of course, she isn’t perfect, and from time to time, she makes questionable decisions; but that’s how a lot of people are. It’s a clear reflection of the abandonment and loneliness that Mimmi feels throughout her life.
The other two have their moments to shine and are equally charming; they each have their separate scenes to showcase their different troubles during these coming-of-age years. On the negative side of things, the structure of only showcasing one day (a Friday) of a week causes each act to feel a bit packed since everything is happening on that exact day until it switches to the next, which is a week after the fact. It’s fragments of these women’s lives, and there are moments where it feels like it works thoroughly. Yet, the emotional underpinnings are felt weaker due to not having more scenes revolving around each’s understanding of their current situations, whether love, family, or future. Do not get me wrong, it does have its effectiveness; I found myself attached to the characters for the most part.
A Film That Ends, Despite Some Missteps, Wishing for More
I just would have hoped that there were more scenes of the three gals together and moments of vulnerability intertwined with the feeling that you will always be someone who cares for you. It almost feels like it had a vignette structure with each Friday developing the love story and friendships even further, except it has more narrative relevancy within each segment the film divides into.
“Girl Picture” is an enjoyable treat filled with good performances, beautiful scenes showing growing pains, and a sense of care. It isn’t the best way to tell a story like this, and its modern contemporaries are way stronger (“Girlhood,” “Breathe,” “Mustang”), however, it contains lovable characters that you wish you’d spend more time with to see how their relationships develop in the long run—a fourth or fifth Friday perhaps.
This review was written from day 5 of Sundance Film Festival’s 2022 programming.
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