I Used To Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story - Film Review

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I Used To Be Normal (2018) is a documentary film directed by Jessica Leski, which takes a refreshingly non judgemental look at fangirls and their obsessions with the boy bands they love.

The film introduces us to four young women, spanning three generations, from Melbourne, Sydney and the United States. There is Elif, a high school student from Long Island, New York, aged 16 at the start of the film, who achieved brief internet fame for a video of her passionate reaction to a One Direction concert video. Dara, 33, from Sydney grew up adoring Take That, and felt embarrassed to share her love of the band.as an adult. 25-year-old Sadia, from San Francisco, found her adoration of the Backstreet Boys as a teenager was a source of tension between her and somewhat conservative parents. Susan, aged 64, from Melbourne, has no regrets about her lifelong adoration of The Beatles.

It's an emotional journey at times. The similarity between Susan and Elif's stories, with them both being held back from going to university to pursue their dreams by their parents, made me sad. However, it's heart warming too. There is something very beautiful about hearing someone talk so passionately about something or someone or something they love. It also makes a pleasant change to see female sexuality, especially that of young women and girls, discussed in a positive way.

I Used To Be Normal is an engaging documentary about a topic that isn't often discussed without ridicule. It is currently streaming on Docplay .



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