LITTLE TROUBLE GIRLS
(director/writer: Urska Djukic; screenwriter: Maria Bohr; cinematographer: Lev Predan Kowarski; editor: Vlado Gojun; music: Kranjcan Loizs; cast: Jara Sofija Ostan (Lucia), Mina Švajger (Ana-Maria), Nataša Burger (mother), Lotos Sparovec (father), Staša Popović (Klara), Mateja Strle (Ursula), Saša Pavček (Sister Magda), Irena Tomažin Zagoričnik (Sister Kati), Damjan Trbovc (Priest), Matia Cason (construction worker), Saša Tabaković (Bojan, choirmaster); Runtime: 89; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Jozko Rutar, David Cej; Spok Films/Kino Lorber; 2025-Slovenia-Italy-Croatia-Serbia) in Slovenian with English subtitles)
“Could have used more spice.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
The coming-of-age drama of sexual awakening is the first feature film by Slovenian filmmaker Urska Djukic, who co-writes it with Maria Bohr. Its title is taken from a Sonic Youth 1995 song. The story is set during a girl choir’s rehearsal at a rural weekend convent retreat to Cividale, Italy, just across the border from Slovenia. It’s Slovenia’s official entry into the foreign film category at the 2025 Oscars.
The shy 16-year-old Lucia (Jara Sofija Ostan), from a devout and overbearing family, is a new Sunday school choir member. The veteran members include the older Ana-Maria (Mina Švajger) and her best friends Klara (Staša Popović) and Ursula (Mateja Strle). At the Italian retreat, though Lucia is attracted to the popular, worldly and rebellious Ana-Maria, the mocking comments by the older girls about her sexual naivety and not wearing makeup turn her off.
Lucia is attracted to a hunky shirtless construction worker (Matia Cason) she spies at the site of the convent. This leaves her confused about her sexual feelings. She has no adult to confide in, as her devout mother (Nataša Burger) won’t understand and her father (Lotos Sparovec) stays away from family problems. At the rehearsals she gets no help from the nun (Saša Pavček) who promotes celibacy, while the stern, middle-aged, choirmaster (Saša Tabaković) is not approachable.
The observant film was well-acted, had good location visuals and was effectively executed. But its familiar story could have used more spice and had nothing new to say about teenage sexual angst.
It played at the Berlin Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 1/17/2026 GRADE: B
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