The Princess of New York 

This article is about the popular 'High School Musical: The Musical: The series.'

The plot lags, the moral lessons are misguided, but are those fluffy little donut creatures adorable? Yes. Yes, they are.

How powerful can a story be when it is stripped to the bare essentials of just a room, a handful of people and raw human voice?

Despite its glaring flaws, First Girl I Loved is not entirely undeserving of a watch. For people who can handle the more difficult aspects of the story and graphic scenes, it is worth looking into. It’s not a film worthy of rewatch, but it may still resonate somewhat with those who need a story like this. It is a genuine, if flimsy attempt at a coming-of-age tale. Were the film to be directed by someone with experiences more similar to Anne, it would likely be more powerful--as it is, it feels like a man’s perspective of what it means to come to terms with your identity as a lesbian. 

We chat with Penelope Lawson about her short film, The Dinner Party, her experience founding her own production company, and fun cinema.