One of the most surprising and sensational films of the year came as a pleasant surprise for this viewer. Girls Like Girls is the directorial debut of pop artist Hayley Kiyoko. An incredibly personal story of a 17-year-old teenager coming of age in a small town in Oregon is beautiful. Maya Da Costa stars as Coley, a young woman who lost her mother at a much too early age. While living with her estranged father, Curtis, played by Zach Braff, she meets a new group of friends. One in particular is Sonja, a shining performance from Myra Molloy.
Having had the chance to see this on the big screen, I was taken by just how impressively Hayley’s film really is. It’s gorgeously photographed, but still manages to tell a raw and honest tale of young love. It’s emotionally charged, never giving in to melodrama. It is real. And I cannot say enough about the two leads. Both Maya and Myra are wonderful together. Every moment feels genuine, and I was rooting for them the entire film. Frankly, it’s one of my favorites so far this year.
Recently, I had the chance to chat with both Ms. Molloy and Ms. Da Costa. It was a joy. The two opened up about working with Hayley, and it’s easy to be impressed. The conversation went from working with Zach Braff to finding their inspired relationship. Both were absolutely charming and made for a breezy and engaging interview. I adored this film. You can check out what our own Mike Conway had to say about it here.
Girls Like Girls is currently playing in theatres.
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