Soeur Celeste: Film Review

In a sea of coming-of-age stories, “Soeur Celeste” is a standout. Impactful, poetic, painful, with moments of quiet clarity, director IB Asanga has given us a pearl of a short film with Soeur Celeste. The story centers around Maeve Durand, an aspiring young actress working hard to gain some momentum in the challenging world of career acting. The struggles and efforts come at a cost, and we bear witness to her journey into self-doubt, anxiety, and depression. A journey that may be all too familiar to people of this age group, especially in the current social and economic climate they find themselves in. This film speaks to the struggles of one young artist, but on a more universal, global level, it addresses societal concerns and issues that young people face today. The anxiety. The isolation. The pressure to succeed. It is all very real. Soeur Celeste speaks to all of this and more in such a beautifully poetic way.

Soeur Celeste starts out familiarly enough, we open on a nervous, but eager young performer, Maeve, played beautifully by Gabrielle King.  As she prepares to take the stage, perhaps on an important night, we cannot help but start to feel this electric nervous energy. As we push into her world, we quickly get the sense that all is not seamless. All is not well. Asanga’s directorial instincts sing as we move into the mind of Maeve. As she takes the stage, looking angelic and radiant, we push in, reality blurs, and we are brought face to face with the inner workings of this young performers mind. The insecurity, the fear of failure, the pressure to get it right, the ticking anxiety of being “liked” and getting the next job. But all as if in a dream. Then we cut to the opening credits, and we are off and on this journey with Maeve.

The opening of the film works very well and transitions us into her “day to day” as a struggling, unseen actress. The pace of the film blends subtly with the soundtrack and camera movements, all serving to push the viewer into the anxious, troubled mind of Maeve. We become acutely aware of the pressure she feels and the choices she feels obligated to make.

King does a phenomenal job of bringing Maeve to life. Many viewers, particularly young viewers, will relate to the pressures and challenges she feels. What does it take to have success? What must one sacrifice in order to achieve? Where can we draw the line? Is there a line? King wears a thousand thoughts and emotions in her subtle, pained expressions. We see the anxiety treading through her mind. We can almost hear her cry to be seen, to be valued as she comes up against obstacles and setbacks. A film like this would call for an actor that can pull off subtext and subtilty. King delivers such a performance in spades- beautiful, bewildered, worry-ridden, and ultimately graceful and knowing, innocent and wise all at once. King shines in this piece.

Soeur Celeste is a film made at the right time. Director IB Asanga, and writers Sofia Folgia and Nina Istrope no doubt had many creative conversations revolving around the plight many young people find themselves in today. Worries over perfectionism, fear of failure, uncertainty in early adulthood, and being able to make a living all the while taking care of oneself and ones relationships are no small considerations. The film seems to turn the spotlight on these issues of modern culture when it comes to how a young person must navigate the world. The level of expectation or the illusion of those expectations is higher on young people than it has ever been. Resulting in a cascade of emotional, mental, and community- based issues. With so much coming at you, it is very difficult to turn off the inner critic and find one’s center. Asanga, as director, is on to this and executes well on these themes with this film.

When all is said and done, this film seems to land in a hopeful, optimistic place. In a final scene Maeve takes the stage for yet another audition… but this time it is with her own words and they land with a heartfelt gravity that cannot be ignored. A beautifully human and vulnerable performance by King. And a final love letter by Asanga and the writers to young people watching.  Asanga aims to highlight the notion that a young person can look within for strength and assurance. That acceptance and value come from within, from oneself. A valuable and often forgotten truth that people of this generation may overlook, may never have been taught in the first place. People who strive to live an authentic and creative life need to remember/relearn this, as it is essential to live a happier, more well-rounded life. This film turns the lens on the harder, more stressful part of becoming an adult.  It certainly isn’t all roses. Young people struggle with self-doubt, anxiety, and pressure to perform. It’s nice to know there are real young creatives coming up who are focusing on this and speaking to it in their chosen art forms. Bravo to this powerful, thoughtful, introspection by a group of young female filmmakers led by IB Asanga. We shall certainly be on the lookout for more work from these young women in the near future.

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