Jennifer Clary: Dirty Girl (2007)

Dirty Girl is the directorial debut of film maker Jennifer Clary. The five minute short's subject matter is a surgical procedure to remove cancers of the breast and ovaries of a female patient. Using claymation and live action scenes on 35mm print, Clary explores on film what she had experienced in her personal life. "When I was 21 I had breast surgery to remove a tumor. It was a terrifying experience which left me feeling vulnerable and dirty...I made Dirty Girl to explore my own psychological reactions to disease and invasive medical treatments."

The film shows a woman in a white paper gown laying on a gurney while a surgeon performs a tumor removal of her left breast and right ovary. In both instances, as soon as a red marker draws the line for the scalpel to cut and we see the woman react to the slicing, the film jumps to a claymation scene where each tumor takes on human characteristics in its battle against a set of tweezers trying to remove it from its home in the woman's body. The tumors fail in their endeavor but Clary leaves the viewer to witness an ominous ending as the ovarian tumor has left residuals of itself behind to begin the process of growth all over again.

At times the stop animation takes on a humorous air. The ovarian tumor, in its fight against the tweezers, uses kung fu bravado reminiscent of Neo's subway fight scene with Mr. Smith in the Matrix. Although some viewers might react to the claymation scenes as Clary trivializing a serious condition that kills many women today, it wasn't her intention. "I chose stop motion animation because I feel that cancer is almost always portrayed as starkly realistic, an unbeatable enemy. By depicting the tumors with colorful clay, I thought that audiences would see cancer in a different, less foreboding light. Yes, it is a terrifying and oftentimes deadly disease. It certainly was not my goal or intention to minimize its seriousness. However, cancer can be survived and is often battled most successfully by patient optimism and perseverance coupled with medical treatment."

What struck this reviewer was the overt sexual nature to the film. Clary, whether intentionally or not, gives point to the view that pain and pleasure are sometimes easy bedmates. When the doctor uses his hands to feel for a lump Clary cuts to a side view of the patient's lower face and we see the woman bite her lower lip. The surgeon does not use scissors to carefully cut the patient's gown; he rips it open with his hands forcefully like an aggressive lover or unwanted rapist. Clary exposes the patient's left nipple rather than keeping it covered. When the surgeon prepares to make an incision Clary cuts again to a side view of the patient's lower face and we see a short intake of breath. These visual stimuli have a double meaning just as the title of the film would indicate. One part surgical procedure, one part sexual act, Dirty Girl is a layered film which explores the nature of the woman's psyche; all in about the time it takes to smoke a cancer causing post coital cigarette.

Official Movie Site

Review by:
Scott D. Brown

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