My only issue with the audio was the difficulty in understanding some of the girls, particularly those with the strongest Brit accents. I know that subtitles can be a bit cheesy - and equally annoying for a UK audience who likely won’t have any trouble understanding what is being said. But many of us Americans aren’t used to these accents, and subtitles could help for any future American sales of this film.
Use of Budget
This film’s budget of $3,000 was spent on travel expenses, tapes, food, an extra hard-drive, and expenses for the sound assistant. There certainly weren’t a whole lot of fancy effects, as the style of the film was more running-and-gunning.
My chief complaint on this film is still its lack of structure, which could perhaps have been planned out better in the editing room; but it’s still impressive that a movie whose creation spanned four-plus years was able to keep its budget at a relatively low number.
Lasting Appeal
A four-year documentary is a daring project to undertake. The longer a production carries on, the more potential there is for problems to occur. I certainly applaud one filmmaker for taking on the project.
Small Town Girl does give a good perspective on small town life, which doesn’t seem to change, no matter what country one is in. There’s still little for teenagers to do but drink, do drugs, and drive around looking for trouble, and in hearing these girls talk, one does definitely get that sense.
That being said, however, the film’s haphazard structure does make it difficult to watch. With such a length, an audience shouldn’t have to spend half the film trying to figure out what’s going on. As shortening isn’t really an option, I’d really suggest some re-editing. There’s a lot of great stuff here, and with such an innovative project one could easily find a good following, both in Britain and in the States.
Overall Comment
Anyone from a small town can attest to the boredom felt as a teenager, and a desire to break away from family life. The unique subject matter of this film gives us a glimpse into the world of three teenagers in small town England – one girl who lives a relatively normal life, one who is breaking out into rebellion, and one who has had to grow up entirely too fast – and their insights and perspectives on the world around them.
