Hide and Seek

No, not the Hide and Seek with De Niro and Fanning.

This Hide and Seek is a documentary blended in with the story of a girl finding out about her sexuality, particularly her attrection to other girls. It is from 1996 and is directed by Sue Friedrich.

One of the scenes has a lesbian woman talking about her mother giving her an "ass whooping" as a girl because she was caught in some sexual act with another child. The woman commented that she found out later that her mother had done the same things as a girl. The woman went on to say that "I think we all do those things." As I have often thought. If not all of us growing up, then certainly most of us. And it has always puzzled me and annoyed me that adults who have have had good experiences sexually as children, with other children or with adults, punish their own children for the same behaviors. It does not make sense.

The two lead girls in Hide and Seek are gorgeous. Chels Holland (who plays Lou in the film) is about 12, and she has her first period in the film. The girl to whom she is attracted is about 11 or 12, but not as physically developed yet.

Another scene I especially like is when one woman is recalling a childhood experience with a teacher, about age 23, that she really liked. The teacher had climbed up on a ladder to hang a decoration, and "all the boys" were standing under the ladder, looking up. The woman said that as a girl she too walked to the ladder and looked up. The teacher was "wearing black underwear". It was obvious that the woman, as a girl, had been sexually excited. Yet another example of children, the boys and the girl, interested sexually in an adult.

The film is only 88 minutes. I highly recommend it for its candor. And did I mention that, in the actual story line, the two lead girls are gorgeous?