Watch Girl Asleep

In "Girl Asleep," a 2015 Australian film directed by Rosemary Myers, the audience is transported to the 1970s to witness the story of Greta Driscoll (Bethany Whitmore), a shy and introverted teenager struggling to fit in at her new school. Greta is extremely uncomfortable with being the center of attention, which makes her the perfect target for her classmates' pranks and ridicule.

The film starts with Greta's family preparing for her 15th birthday party, which Greta reluctantly agrees to attend. The party is being held in their new home, a stark modernist house that feels cold and unfamiliar. Greta's parents are overeager to make a good impression on the guests, and as they greet them, it's painfully obvious that Greta is uncomfortable with the attention.

As the night wears on, Greta retreats to her room, where she is visited by several characters from her subconscious mind. She first meets Elliot (Harrison Feldman), a boy from her class who is attracted to her, and she finds a small amount of solace in the thought that someone might like her. Elliot gives her an origami crane, which she treasurers.

Next, Greta meets the grotesque Huldra (Amber McMahon), a woodland creature with an insatiable appetite for Greta's identity. Huldra is a metaphor for Greta's fear of losing herself and becoming someone she doesn't recognize, but Greta manages to defeat Huldra with the help of Elliot.

The party starts to become more chaotic, and Greta's parents bicker and argue with each other in front of the guests. Greta retreats further into her imaginary world, and soon she finds herself lost in a fantastical forest filled with strange creatures and impossible landscapes.

As Greta tries to find her way home, she meets a group of teenagers who invite her to a party. Initially hesitant, Greta is persuaded to join them and is drawn into a surreal world where anything is possible. There is a sense of danger lurking just below the surface, and as the night wears on, Greta discovers that the rules of this world are not as clear cut as they first appeared.

"Girl Asleep" is an enchanting film that uses a blend of live-action and stop-motion animation to create a visually stunning world that is both whimsical and unsettling. The film explores the anxieties and fears that come with growing up, and the desire to hold onto our own identity in the face of social pressures and expectations.

The performances in the film are excellent, with Whitmore providing a captivating portrayal of a young girl struggling to find her place in the world. Feldman is equally impressive as Elliot, the boy who sees the real Greta beneath the shy exterior. McMahon is wonderfully grotesque as Huldra, embodying the character's twisted desires with frightening intensity.

Myers' direction is confident and assured, managing to balance the surreal and the mundane with ease. The film's soundtrack, which features an eclectic mix of music from the 1970s and 80s, adds to the film's nostalgic feel while also creating a sense of unease.

Overall, "Girl Asleep" is a stunning coming-of-age tale that manages to be both visually striking and emotionally resonant. The film explores the fear and excitement that comes with growing up, and the importance of staying true to oneself in the face of adversity. Definitely worth a watch!

Girl Asleep is a 2016 fantasy movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 17 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 67.