Review of Brave Little Army

A Young Sisterhood

By Guest Contributor Jessica Philbrick

Jessica is a feminist artist and freelance arts writer originating from New Zealand and currently residing in Berlin. Jessica works with photography and video to explore the current construct of femininity through appearances. She is also a painter and film photographer. Her photographs and paintings continue to make use of a feminine color pallet and play with a somewhat fictional representation of real stories, offering a reflection on domestic spaces (some may say ‘feminine spaces’) which is nostalgic and poignant. These empty interiors aim to present a similar unease as her feminist videos to urge a conversation around the everyday thoughts and emotions relating to a young woman’s sense of space, appearance, femininity and feminism.

The international premiere screening of Michelle D’Alessandro Hatt’s short film Brave Little Army couldn't have come more timely. Shown at the Berlin Feminist Film Week (BFFW), the 6-minute short film complements the rise and necessity for feminism in young women. Having played just after International Women’s Day (a newly made public holiday in Berlin), Brave Little Army adds to the canon of films on female capabilities.  

Brave Little Army was nominated and placed in the shorts screening at BFFW for the category “Coming of Age.” Centering around protagonist Em (Lyla Elliott), a new kid at school, this film employs a young perspective on self-realization and friendship to explore overarching feminist ideas. As the film opens, Em arrives fashionably late to class in her femme-punk attire, cueing the familiar scene of the unknown school social system. Em quickly breaks many clichés and is not cast as the target of new-kid-syndrome, but instead as an icon and inspiration to other girls in the classroom. Her self-assured attitude sparks curiosity in fellow classmates Dee, Lu and K, which kick-starts the story of friendship, loyalty and self-discovery.

Brave Little Army poster (photo: Sarah Zanon)

Though Em is the leading character of the film, D’Alessandro Hatt has crafted the narration to be told from the perspective of her new friends, a tool which the audience admired. Beginning as a seemingly classic mini-teen-drama, consisting of sleepovers, book clubs and struts down the school hallway, the film shortly twists into a fantasy mask for the family issues occuring in Em’s life. Her new-found friends reveal the bravery within Em and the driver for her independent characteristics. Brave Little Army proudly displays the gravitas of placing yourself in other’s shoes. Em becomes a symbol for personalised freedom and self-expression.

Brave Little Army screened amidst seven other powerful short films. With an intimate audience and films with heavy, albeit important, feminist messages, Brave Little Army provided a somewhat comic relief. All films in the “Coming of Age” category addressed significant loss, women’s roles in the home (across the world) and patriarchal dominance. D’Alessandro Hatt’s direction employed the joy of friendship to not only re-divert elements of pain in Em’s life but to illustrate the importance of sisterhood from a young age.

All films demonstrated a diversity in the strength of women, even in moments of defeat. D’Alessandro Hatt displayed this beautifully by the characterisation of Em’s mother, signifying the necessity of standing up for oneself in situations of weakness. Brave Little Army reflected the same message which was present in all of the BFFW short films; women are still bravely fighting elements of oppression, feminism is active across the globe, and the conversation must begin when one is coming of age.

Brave Little Army is part one of a trilogy of short films to come. Follow Michelle D’Alessandro Hatt on Instagram @michelledhatt or follow @blacklabfilmco for updates. You can also follow Jessica Philbrick on Instragram and Facebook @jphilbrickartist or check out her website j-philbrickartist.com.

Set still (photo: Sarah Zanon)

Director Michelle D'Alessandro Hatt (photo: LV Imagery)