『A Journey of Love Facing Each Other Beyond Fear and Insecurity』
🎥 Film Overview
🎬 Title: Several Conversations About a Very Tall Girl (Original Title: Câteva conversații despre o fată foarte înaltă, 2018)
🌍 Country: 🇷🇴 Romania
🎞️ Genre: Drama / Romance / Coming-of-age
🗓️ Production and Release: Independent Film
⏳ Runtime: Approx. 88 minutes
📢 Director: Bogdan Theodor Olteanu
🖋️ Screenplay: Bogdan Theodor Olteanu
👩💼 Cast: Silvana Mihai – Sisi
Florentina Năstase – Lin
🧩 Deep Story Exploration (Spoilers)
💬 The Absent ‘Tall Girl’ and ‘Safe Conversations’
The relationship between Sisi and Lin begins ironically through the absence of another person.
- A shared absence: The two women grow close while talking about their mutual ex — the very tall girl. This absent figure serves as a bridge for them to safely share their queer experiences and emotions. By using a past lover as a mediator, they are able to break down emotional barriers without the immediate pressure of direct romantic involvement.
- The trap of online intimacy: Much of the film unfolds through online chat logs and fragmented encounters. The online space becomes a safe zone for both Lin and Sisi — a place where they can express themselves without restraint, rapidly intensifying their emotional bond. Yet, this virtual intimacy collides with reality once they step into the physical world, confronting the problem of exposure.
📱 Lin, the ‘Responder’ vs. Sisi, the ‘Withholder’
As the two grow closer, their relationship develops a fundamentally unbalanced dynamic due to their contrasting attitudes toward love.
- Lin approaches relationships with openness and honesty, constantly seeking clear responses and definition from her partner. For Lin, love is not something to be hidden but rather an integral part of life—a feeling that must be visible and acknowledged. Her behavior implies that she is relatively free in expressing affection and willing to embrace love without fear.
- Sisi, on the other hand, approaches relationships cautiously and defensively, showing avoidance in response to Lin’s demands. Her inner conflict stems from a deep fear of exposure—the anxiety over the social consequences of revealing her relationship. This reflects how, within Romania’s conservative social context, Sisi tries to maintain a “safe life” by concealing her queer identity. Her hesitation reveals an inner struggle between authentic self-expression and the fear of social judgment.
While Lin seeks progress in their relationship, Sisi prioritizes safety. Their romance becomes a continuous struggle between the desire to reveal oneself with courage and the fear that forces one to hide under social pressure.
🫧 When Breath Touches, Fear Emerges
- Fear of exposure: Sisi’s ongoing avoidance is not simple hesitation. It reflects the real fear of stigma and discrimination that accompanies coming out as queer in a still-conservative society like Romania. For Sisi, her relationship with Lin extends beyond emotional connection — it becomes a potential public act of coming out, something she cannot easily face.
- Lin’s frustration: Lin interprets Sisi’s hesitation as a sign of insufficient love or lack of conviction. Yet her longing is not only romantic — it’s a plea for accountability and visibility. Lin wants their relationship to be seen, acknowledged, and validated by the outside world.
👩 The Metaphor of the ‘Tall Girl’ and the Question of Identity
The “very tall girl” in the title refers not only to the ex-lover but also functions as a metaphor for social barriers and identity itself that the two must confront.
- An overwhelming fear: The phrase “very tall” implies something immense and intimidating. This “tall girl” can symbolize the enormous social fear and isolation experienced by queer youth in Romania’s restrictive environment.
- The limits of conversation: Although the two share countless conversations, they never reach a clear resolution on the core questions: “Why must we hide?” or “Can we truly love openly?” The film reveals that talking more does not necessarily lead to deeper intimacy or clarity.
As the story unfolds, the tension rises as they grow closer, only to face the very things that divide them.
✨ The Struggle for Visibility in an Unstable Era
Câteva conversații despre o fată foarte înaltă departs from traditional romance, portraying a generation of queer individuals torn between personal desire and social constraint. The relationship between Sisi and Lin reflects a reality where making love visible and definable is often more difficult than love itself.
The film does not provide a clear answer as to whether they will overcome their emotional and social distance. Instead, it invites viewers to witness the vulnerability of a generation caught between concealment and revelation, confronting Romanian society with the weighty theme of queer visibility.
🎯 Personal Rating
💕 Love Scene Intensity: ♥♥♥
⭐ Rating: ★★★
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