Level 16, 2019

Canadian screenwriter, producer, and director Danishka Esterhazy’s latest film Level 16 is serving all gloom, doom, and gender politics this year. Set in an all-girls boarding school/prison, Level 16 follows the story of two girls who literally and metaphorically wake up to horrors of their reality. Girls who go through the levels of the school are taught obedience above all else, and once they arrive at level 16, their future becomes even more dreadful. Level 16 isn’t just a Handmaid’s Tale rehash, however; there are some real, unique ideas about female appearance, worth, and youth to chew on here. Esterhazy doesn’t consistently hit the mark throughout the film, and there are sections missing some much-needed tension, but the cinematography is really nice and the focus on the relationship between the two girls was a smart choice. I would like to see what this film could be with a larger budget, but what Esterhazy was able to accomplish with what she had is impressive.