Babystar | TIFF50

Babystar explores the concepts of online fame, exploitation and the pieces of oneself that are lost along the way. The themes explored in the film were very reflective of our current social media age, where young children are thrust into the spotlight without their consent, even in utero. Babystar follows the story of one such child.

Online, Luca (Maja Bons) lives the life a young person in the digital age dreams of. Beautiful home, adoring fans, and all the luxuries one could want. But behind closed doors the story is quite different. Neglected and disregarded by her parents, whose sole goal is to profit from their child’s success, Luca is desperate to be seen and heard to no avail.

The film is heartbreaking as you see these constant attempts at connections fail and Luca begins to retreat further and further into herself. She puts on a bright smile when faced with fans, but is deeply melancholic behind it all.

Babystar intentionally distances you from Luca and her family. The film is shot in a way to make you feel like you know her, but not quite. The shot composition is almost voyeuristic, making you complicit in the exploitation that Luca experiences. The camera is placed at the corner of the room, from above, from afar, to create this intentional separation. It takes this creative approach even further by showing us clips of security camera footage - turning us into onlookers peering into something we shouldn't see.

This distancing was in line with the themes of the film, however as a viewer, it prevented me from truly getting to know Luca and deeply investing in the story. The film also moves unexpectedly slowly however it also has shocking moments that pull you back in.

Despite feeling distanced from the characters, I was impressed with the creative risks that the film took. As you watch Luca's story, brands name are blurred and social media names are bleeped out, speaking to the way her life is constantly monitored, censored, and controlled. The lines between online and real life begin to blur as reality becomes unclear.

The bleak reality of Luca's life is contrasted with clips from her family's YouTube channel showing a perfect, cookie-cutter life. You see how Luca was thrust into the world of fame without her consent, even before she was born. This film forces the audience reflect critically on the content we consume and the narratives we are presented. We are all complicit. Now the question is, now that we know, what do we do next?