My Review of ‘Polly’ (2017)

This short movie, the directorial debut of Cassiah Joski-Jethi, is a unique combination of psychological thriller and dystopian coming-of-age story.

The title character and her peers undergo a daily ritual of wearing the proper attire which mimics the dolls they carry. Polly’s appearance is monitored and cultivated under her mother’s watchful eye.

: Harriet Rees as Polly

: Sally Davey as Clarice

She attends an all-girls school of students in pink and white uniforms, where the curriculum seems to focus on how to maintain a household and prepare for marriage and imposing the values they’ve learned upon their own daughters.

Annabel Pemberton as Miss Marton

It’s tempting to see the film as a cross between The Stepford Wives and Rebel Without a Cause (with a female rebel wielding scissors).

Polly chafes at the restraints, a feeling shown in the smallest ways, at first. However, Polly eventually lashes out in a manner that raises the stakes and heightens the suspense.

All this within a 13-minute film that has the bare minimum of dialogue. Polly is a study in how great imagery can make a movie. It’s also an intriguing film that pairs feminism with adolescent angst and raises many questions about how far women have really come.

It’s worth noting that the movie had an all-female cast and crew and has received accolades at several film festivals.

Check out the film’s website and trailer! 🙂

Trailer for POLLY – a short film by Cassiah Joski-Jethi from Cassiah Joski-Jethi on Vimeo.

I found the ambiguous ending thought-provoking, but it may not be for everyone. Even so, the visual spendor more than makes up for it!