Venus vs. Me (2010)

Directed by: Nathalie Teirlinck | 25 minutes | short film | Actors: Thomas Ryckewaert, Sarah Van den Berghe, Brit Van Hoof, Geert Van Rampelberg

Nathalie Teirlinck does not make it easy for her viewers. She juggles in ‘Venus vs. Me’ likes to use all kinds of symbols and her film sometimes feels like a block of concrete around our necks. Too much emo and a fair of cinematic tricks kind of ruin it. Marie is a twelve-year-old girl trying to find her place in the world. She is quite quiet but makes up for that with her swimming talent. Mother does her best but is herself in knots with her feelings. In her final sprint to puberty, Marie also undergoes physical changes that make her anxious. Teirlinck apparently paid attention in the film lessons and therefore squeezes everything out to convince the viewer that she is right. The tinkering with the tape just gets on the nerves and is just repetitive. The camera also makes strange movements. This looks more like a charm offensive to cover up a few things in terms of the scenario. Moreover, it diverts attention from a most charming lead actress. ‘Venus vs. Me’ is a poem that is destroyed by too many beautiful words.