Meet Me Under The Bleachers is a student coming-of-age, drama-fantasy short from writer-director Sophie Aguila. Lily (Claire Scavone), a senior in high school, is at a crossroads as two important events are ramping up and will overlap. She desperately wants to attend homecoming with her girlfriend, Bailey (Hailey Ibberson), yet her mother (Kelsey Rhea) insists she go to a family reunion.
While at the family reunion, Lily feels uncomfortable and goes to the restroom. In the restroom, Eli (Barron Leung), an effeminate supernatural student, shows up and reveals that Lily can be in two places at once. He introduces her to a magical portal. This portal allows her to be at homecoming and the family reunion. Even with this magical device, Lily must make an important decision. If she doesn’t attend the dance, her relationship with Bailey could end terribly. Staying at the reunion will create more discomfort for her, going along with her mother’s perfectionist control.
“Lily, a senior in high school, is at a crossroads as two important events are ramping up and will overlap.”
Meet Me Under The Bleachers effectively captures teen awkwardness. Scavone’s performance perfectly visualizes how the teenage experience can lead to miscommunication and a struggle to convey one’s needs. Leung is a highlight; he carries the film with his charisma and versatility in switching between campy and realistic acting. Aguila’s directing and thoughtful screenplay make the cast shine!
Kerri Sage’s cinematography adds to Aguila’s introspective coming-of-age fantasy. Sage uses color to fit Lily’s distinct worlds; the family reunion is lit with a sterile white aesthetic. This color contrast clashes against the purple and day-glow lighting of the homecoming scenes. The creative cinematography highlights Lily’s emotions and complements the subtle fantastical elements.
At 15 minutes, Meet Me Under The Bleachers packs a lot of drama. The performances carry the film, yet this short could’ve been expanded to at least 25 minutes to beef up Lily’s conflict. Her personal relationships, especially with her mother and girlfriend, feel underdeveloped, as the brief runtime made it difficult to connect with the characters. However, there is solid material here for a feature film. Aguila’s film is worth a watch because teen cinema can offer a refreshing look at the challenges of life with an upbeat and down-to-earth attitude.
"…packs a lot of drama."
