Just Kids – Short Film

In post-production

Alisha (9) is tired of playing rugby against boys who are not ready to lose, but one day she discovers the other boys are not where her problems are coming from.

READ THE PITCH DECK HERE

Synopsis

9-year-old Alisha is the only girl in her rugby team. Each game comes with new boys who are not ready to lose to her, making her experience frustrating rather than enjoyable. But one day she plays against Ben: a boy suffering from the pressure of his mother’s “tough-guy” expectations. The mother knows Ben has a vulnerable character, so she wants to make a “real man” out of him before the other children may start bullying him. When Ben becomes too aggressive on the pitch, the two children inevitably clash and they both get expelled from the game. But after a close encounter with Ben’s mother, Alisha understands the boy is a victim of gender stereotypes just as much as she is.

Why this film

Gender stereotypes are the underlying cause of major social issues such as violence against women, high suicide rates among young men, and the gender pay gap (just to name a few). By the age of six, children already have a clear idea of what their role in society is and how they are supposed to behave based on their gender. Studies show that such young girls have serious self-esteem problems: they consider themselves less intelligent and capable than boys and believe certain tasks or positions of power are more suitable for boys. On the other hand, young boys struggle to express emotions and develop violent behaviours. “Just Kids” shows us how we could be inadvertently fuelling a negative loop that is preventing us from living in a fairer society for both women and men.

Social Impact

The project is delivered in partnership with over 40 charities, organizations and influencers that will help us make an impact by using the film as part of their daily activities in schools and distributing it to an audience of parents and teachers. Our partners include: