Little Trouble Girls

Introverted 16-year-old Lucia joins the all-girls choir at her Catholic school, where she befriends Ana-Maria, a popular and flirty third-year student. During a weekend retreat at a remote countryside convent for intensive rehearsals, Lucia’s growing fascination with a dark-eyed restoration worker begins to strain her bond with Ana-Maria and the rest of the choir. Amid unfamiliar surroundings and the stirrings of her budding sexuality, Lucia finds herself questioning her beliefs and values. As these new desires emerge, they threaten to disrupt not only her relationships but also the harmony of the choir.

The feature debut of director Urška Djukić (Babičino seksualno življenje) tells the story of shy and sensitive 16-year-old Lucija, exploring the power of girlhood voices that challenge traditional ideas and patriarchal patterns. The film was the opening title of the Perspektive competition program and won the FIPRESCI award for best debut at this year’s Berlinale.

Kaj ti je deklica is brilliantly acted, written (Urška Djukić), directed (Djukić), shot (Lev Predan Kowarski), edited (Vladimir Gojun), produced (Jožko Rutar & Miha Černec), and sung — a film about a renewed girl who can no longer be controlled and who understands: if you don’t suffer, it doesn’t work! How she chooses to act remains unknown. But who are we to expect answers? Or to question her, when it’s clear the real question is whether Slovenian cinephiles will turn the charming bridge — the Monument Valley of this Girl — into their own ponte dei sospiri.

Distribution: Gustav Film

Organized and presented by Kulturna četrt Minoriti, Lutkovno gledališče Maribor • Supported by Mestna občina Maribor • Sponsors Radenska, Lunos, OTP banka