A Field Guide to Being a 12-Year-Old Girl

The film centres on the internal landscape of twelve-year-old girls, focusing on their hopes, memories, and feelings rather than explicitly tackling broad social issues. The 'field guide' approach allows for a more personal exploration of what it means to be this age. While specific societal pressures might be implicitly present in their articulations, the primary focus remains on their individual experiences and the universalities of their developmental stage.

The viewing experience is best described as an inquisitive and intimate cross between a documentary and a theatre piece. The film functions as a 'field guide,' where the twelve-year-old girls themselves act as the investigators of their own species. Their performances are authentic, as they articulate their inner worlds. It's an observational yet deeply personal journey that invites the audience into the unfiltered realities of adolescence.

Absolutely. While crafted for twelve-year-olds, the film's themes resonate universally. It's recommended for anyone who has experienced being twelve, will experience it, or even wishes they could revisit that time. The honest articulation of hopes, memories, and feelings by the young cast offers a powerful reminder of this formative period. It provides a unique opportunity for adults to reflect on their own past or to gain a deeper understanding of the younger generation.

The film is a collaborative effort spearheaded by Tilda Cobham-Hervey, who worked alongside twelve twelve-year-old girls. These young individuals are not just subjects but active creators, lending their voices and perspectives to the project. They perform themselves, contributing their genuine thoughts on what it means to be twelve, what they aspire to, and what they recall from their experiences. This direct involvement ensures an unfiltered and authentic portrayal.

This unique film centres on the authentic experiences of twelve-year-old girls, created by them for a similar audience. It blurs the lines between documentary and theatre, presenting a 'field guide' to navigating this specific age. The young creators articulate their hopes, memories, and the emotional landscape of being twelve. By performing themselves, they offer an insightful, self-investigative look into their own generation and the universal feelings associated with this pivotal stage of life.