Director and co-writer, Nicole Collins, stars in the short film which sheds light on the powerful yet taboo experience that half of the world’s population must come to terms with: menstruation. Viewers are introduced to Nicole’s character Hildy and her daughter Mahogany, played by Aadyn Encalarde, as they celebrate Mahogany getting her period for the first time with a “period party.” This mother-daughter relationship serves as a vehicle by which the dichotomous nature of menstruation throughout a female’s life.
Associated with the start of “womanhood,” Mahogany’s experience conveys the excitement of beginning a new chapter in her life by starting her period. At her party, she celebrates with her friends as well as several of her family members. On the other hand, Hildy is confronted by health issues related to her reproductive organs and what it means for her wish to have another child. She keeps her struggles mainly to herself and suffers alone until she is able to let her loved one’s in. When combined, the experiences of these two characters illustrate the ways in which women’s reproductive health is both celebrated and stigmatized at the same time.
In just fifteen short minutes, this film captures the essence of an existence experienced by those born with female reproductive organs. Going beyond the mother-daughter relationship highlighted in the film, other relationships and interactions between individuals help to convey the community that is formed through the shared experience of menstruation.
This community extends beyond family and friends as complete strangers find themselves connected by the collective struggle of womanhood. Hildy experiences this firsthand when a woman informs her that she is bleeding through her pants and offers a newspaper to help her cover it. A moment that only lasts a few seconds perfectly captures the indescribable yet recognizable unity women face in a varied yet shared experience.
Although centered around menstruation, the film touches on and attempts to answer several complex and heavy questions. What does it mean to be a woman? What does it mean to be feminine? Do I want children? What if I can’t have children? What is gender identity and how does it relate to one’s gender assigned at birth? Can you still feel feminine even if there are parts of you that don’t align with the stereotypical traits of femininity? What do I do if I have to choose between my health and my desires? These questions carry a lot of weight for women, some more than others, throughout various stages of life.
While a viewer may not be able to fully relate to each of these questions or the lived experiences of each of the characters, they are provided with a chance to empathize as they are opened to the grounding truth that connects each experience to another; the emotional and physical aspects of growing into and through womanhood.
This film could be utilized as a powerful tool for starting conversations and attempting to answer questions about periods for women and girls that go beyond the biological explanation of the menstrual cycle. Even people who have male reproductive organs can benefit from viewing this film as it can provide them with insight and allow them to better empathize with the experiences faced by the women in their lives. Any person who views this film will be able to find either something to relate to or something to learn from.
At the end of the day, it isn’t just the telling of the female experience in relation to menstruation and reproductive health, rather it is the telling of a lived experience that is profoundly human. Rating 5/5.
What subjects or college majors would benefit from the content covered in this film?
Classes pertaining to women’s and family health, gender studies, sociology, and psychology could utilize this film in their academic library. This film captures the complex nature of women’s health through the inclusion of powerful relationships, voicing difficult and heavy questions, and conveying varied emotions. Students studying a variety of subjects can benefit from watching this film as there are multiple lenses through which the content of the film can be analyzed.
What kind of film collection would this title be suitable for?
This film could fit into a variety of film collections including coming of age, women’s health, family relations, body positivity/image, etc.
What ages would this film be suitable for?
The youngest demographic this film would be suitable for is prepubescent children (9-12 years old) which is the age group the Mahogany and her friends fall into. Essentially, this film would be best suited for anyone on the verge of experiencing their first period. While there is nothing inappropriate enough that would lead me to recommend keeping the film from younger viewers, it is my belief that younger children would likely not be able to connect with the messages of the film. Beyond that, this film has the ability to connect with age groups well beyond prepubescence such as early adulthood, middle age, and beyond.