The storyline follows a young girl named Lulu (Jesalie Lopez) who is very pleased with herself for convincing her mother to buy her a pair of light-up sneakers that give her the confidence to stand up to Susie (Alexandra Pierce), who thinks she owns the neighborhood playground. With Lulu's friend group and Susie's posse cheering them on, the girls engage in a dance battle for dominance, both learning a lesson about friendship along the way!
I recommend Light Up Lulu for a youth & family film festival because it is an upbeat and energetic film that younger viewers will enjoy. It offers positive role models that demonstrate the importance of friendship and kindness. The plot development is very fast-paced and doesn't quite give us adequate time to get to know the characters. Of course, this college student film is only seven minutes in length, so that does not allow a lot of time to learn the backstories of the characters. It introduces the conflict immediately and the majority of time is occupied by the girls' dance battle. When Susie and Lulu make up so quickly and begin to play together again, it happens so suddenly and feels unnatural that the girls would put their conflict aside so fact and with no discussion after being at odds for most of the film. The camera work stands out, especially during Lulu and Susie's initial scene together, where they stand facing each other at opposite ends of the screen. Because of the angle that scene is shot at, the conflict between the girls is clear immediately, even before the dialogue begins. Combine that with the soundtrack, the cinematography in this shot makes it reminiscent of a scene from a Western movie in which the two rival characters come face-to-face for the first time. Each scene in the dance battle has its own costume and set which suits the music perfectly. For example, Lulu has a hip-hop segment in which she wears chains, sunglasses and a jacket and dances against a background of silver streamers. Susie does a ballet routine in an elegant tutu, standing on a stage with red curtains. The sets and costumes perfectly set the tone for each of those scenes. The soundtrack is an essential component, as music and dance go hand in hand. Each piece of music fits each dance style well. The background music adds to the film's energy, such as during Lulu and Susie's initial introduction, where foreboding music adds to the already tangible tension.
Though it occurs quite quickly, I was impressed with Lulu and Susie's character development. At the beginning, both girls are arrogant, convinced that the territory "belongs" to them, and reluctant to allow the other to set foot on "their" turf. They act competitive and lofty, thinking the other is inferior and undeserving. However, as the story progresses, they both become more compassionate and learn to respect one another and care about the other's feelings. Susie falls down at the end and, rather than gloating, Lulu helps her up -- and Susie accepts the help without complaint. Both of the actresses are also very promising dancers. I thoroughly enjoyed their performances. The costumes are fantastic. The girls' outfits during the dance battle show that the costume designer has a very good sense of different styles of dance and the attire appropriate for each. I particularly love Susie's ballet outfit. It is a beautiful leotard and tutu with intricate detailing that matches the classical music she dances to. My favorite part of this film is the dance battle between two girls. Though they are dancing for the purpose of fighting, it is harmless and entertaining. The music is so cheerful; I felt like getting up and dancing with them.
The film's message is that friendship comes with conflict, but your best friends are worth fighting for. When given the choice, you should always choose kindness over being right. Disputes happen, but you can choose to resolve them in a creative, peaceful or even fun way, rather than choosing violence. Be aware that it shows kids doing risky things that kids might imitate. There is a scene toward the end that shows a boy intentionally placing something on the ground that causes Susie to slip. She falls, which was clearly what the boy's intent was, though she does not appear to be seriously injured.
I give Light Up Lulu 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. By Ella S., KIDS FIRST!
The storyline follows a young girl named Lulu (Jesalie Lopez) who is very pleased with herself for convincing her mother to buy her a pair of light-up sneakers that give her the confidence to stand up to Susie (Alexandra Pierce), who thinks she owns the neighborhood playground. With Lulu's friend group and Susie's posse cheering them on, the girls engage in a dance battle for dominance, both learning a lesson about friendship along the way!
I recommend Light Up Lulu for a youth & family film festival because it is an upbeat and energetic film that younger viewers will enjoy. It offers positive role models that demonstrate the importance of friendship and kindness. The plot development is very fast-paced and doesn't quite give us adequate time to get to know the characters. Of course, this college student film is only seven minutes in length, so that does not allow a lot of time to learn the backstories of the characters. It introduces the conflict immediately and the majority of time is occupied by the girls' dance battle. When Susie and Lulu make up so quickly and begin to play together again, it happens so suddenly and feels unnatural that the girls would put their conflict aside so fact and with no discussion after being at odds for most of the film. The camera work stands out, especially during Lulu and Susie's initial scene together, where they stand facing each other at opposite ends of the screen. Because of the angle that scene is shot at, the conflict between the girls is clear immediately, even before the dialogue begins. Combine that with the soundtrack, the cinematography in this shot makes it reminiscent of a scene from a Western movie in which the two rival characters come face-to-face for the first time. Each scene in the dance battle has its own costume and set which suits the music perfectly. For example, Lulu has a hip-hop segment in which she wears chains, sunglasses and a jacket and dances against a background of silver streamers. Susie does a ballet routine in an elegant tutu, standing on a stage with red curtains. The sets and costumes perfectly set the tone for each of those scenes. The soundtrack is an essential component, as music and dance go hand in hand. Each piece of music fits each dance style well. The background music adds to the film's energy, such as during Lulu and Susie's initial introduction, where foreboding music adds to the already tangible tension.
Though it occurs quite quickly, I was impressed with Lulu and Susie's character development. At the beginning, both girls are arrogant, convinced that the territory "belongs" to them, and reluctant to allow the other to set foot on "their" turf. They act competitive and lofty, thinking the other is inferior and undeserving. However, as the story progresses, they both become more compassionate and learn to respect one another and care about the other's feelings. Susie falls down at the end and, rather than gloating, Lulu helps her up -- and Susie accepts the help without complaint. Both of the actresses are also very promising dancers. I thoroughly enjoyed their performances. The costumes are fantastic. The girls' outfits during the dance battle show that the costume designer has a very good sense of different styles of dance and the attire appropriate for each. I particularly love Susie's ballet outfit. It is a beautiful leotard and tutu with intricate detailing that matches the classical music she dances to. My favorite part of this film is the dance battle between two girls. Though they are dancing for the purpose of fighting, it is harmless and entertaining. The music is so cheerful; I felt like getting up and dancing with them.
The film's message is that friendship comes with conflict, but your best friends are worth fighting for. When given the choice, you should always choose kindness over being right. Disputes happen, but you can choose to resolve them in a creative, peaceful or even fun way, rather than choosing violence. Be aware that it shows kids doing risky things that kids might imitate. There is a scene toward the end that shows a boy intentionally placing something on the ground that causes Susie to slip. She falls, which was clearly what the boy's intent was, though she does not appear to be seriously injured.
I give Light Up Lulu 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. By Ella S., KIDS FIRST!
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