The Tribeca Film Festival is not just a launching pad for a whole spectrum of the best new independent feature movies, but it also premieres an impressive array of short films too. Ripe is one such case. Made by a queer duo of filmmakers known as Tusk, its a charming coming out-story that happens one summer on Spain’s Costa Brava.
It’s where American teenager Gloria (Raina Landolfi) is spending the summer passing alot of her time getting telephone messages from her boyfriend who has a litany of excuses for why he is not coming to visit her. There are no adults in sight, but Gloria does at least get to hang out with a few local kids her age. One of their activities is playing soccer and during one match she manages to break the arm of Gloria (Rita Roca) the self-assumed leader of the group.
It sets the relationship between the two girls of on to a bad footing but once the air is cleared and Gloria offers to cook a meal for then both, they reconnect . Now it seems that their relationship has the marked possibility into developing into something quite different.
Ripe’s gentle story line is a contemporary take on when a coming of age story is also about the discovery of sexuality. Its refreshingly undramatic and will give hope to anyone that age who is dealing with what seems like confusing feelings. Highly recommended
Labels: 2024, lesbian, review, Ripe, short film, Tribeca, Tusk
