Jesse decides to die. I don't know why she hates me so much.
- She doesn't hate you. She hates herself.
Director Amy S. Weber began her career as a creator of educational films for schoolchildren. She talked to real teenagers who talked about their experiences. Violence at school, problems in the family, teenage suicide, mental illness, eating disorders, unhealthy relationships, child abuse - in ten years of work, Amy S. Weber spoke in her educational films about these and many other issues that students face to this day. In the end, the director realized that all these problems are either caused by low self-esteem or cause it. She could not help but notice how the technological process has affected the minds of the younger generation and changed their lives. The bullying has become particularly radically different - if it used to stop as soon as you step outside the school fence, now it can haunt you everywhere. The Internet not only made life easier for bullies, but also made the tortures of their victims visible to the world, which only added to the pressure on young minds. So in her second feature film, Amy S. Weber decided to tell the story of two teenage girls, one of whom could not stand the bullying from the other.
Given the past of the director, it is not surprising that the film “Same Like Her” was shot in the genre of a pseudo-documentary film – a woman named Amy begins shooting at a public school, famous for its unusually high quality of education, and very soon finds herself involved in an impromptu investigation into the suicide attempt of one of the students. But don’t accuse Amy S. Weber of bad taste or lack of originality for choosing a shaky camera and mocumentary genre. First of all, her picture is addressed to teenagers, in which case there is nothing better than speaking their language, addressing them using cameras on mobile phones, emails and Facebook posts. However, the content of the picture is not at all as simple as its shell. Amy S. Weber shows a good knowledge of the psychology of adolescents, understanding not only the suffering of the victim of bullying, but also the torment of the bully. One of the main advantages of her film is that it is not one-sided and presents an opportunity to actually understand the problem by understanding the motivation of each participant in the events.
The tagline of the film is “Based on a Million True Stories.” It’s hard to say for sure that the things Amy S. Weber talks about in Just Like Her are universal, and many children go through them, no matter what time they live, what nationality or orientation they are, whether they believe in God or not, whether they are rich or poor. First of all, this film is not a work of art, but a tool for social change. The picture is actively trying to convey to its target audience and shown in many American schools. The story of Jess and Avery is told with a force and passion that will appeal to young minds. I would like to believe that in this picture they will find strength and inspiration. The film “Same Like Her” should not be watched by moviegoers expecting a new form or provocative content. However, you can pay attention to it if, in addition to the movie lover, an activist lives in you, whose heart and soul hurt for all the children who have already died, unable to withstand the tension that almost every modern teenager experiences.
