Do We Have A Chance?

From Italian writer/director Valentina Galdi, Do We Have A Chance? is a short animation which looks to discuss the difficulties of growing up gay in the modern world. Animated by Réka Kiss, in a very simple manner, the story similarly follows a very simple narrative which will undoubtedly feel very familiar to anyone who has had to go through their adolescent years facing these challenges.

Using simple line drawings, the characters in the film are portrayed as cutesy, big-eyed, button-nosed children, who come across as very relatable to the viewer. None of the characters speak, perhaps as a deliberate choice from Galdi to indicate the lack of voice certain sections of society may have, but also this manages to keep the scope of the film as wide as possible, allowing the universality of the message to come through. Instead, we have a simple piano based score from Lorenzo Quaranta to lead us through the film.

Do We Have A Chance? follows a young boy who seems to have trouble socialising or being around others. Rather than join in the games in the park, the boy prefers to sit under a tree and focus on his drawings, one of which just happens to be of one of the cute boys who is also in the park. Suddenly, when a rogue football is launched across the field, it hits the lonely boy on the head and we then get to see just what is going on inside his mind.

We follow the young boy’s story as he can’t make up his mind to talk to anyone, let alone approach the cute boy to let him know how he feels. Back at home, social media naturally plays a part, and even though the young boy has found a way to contact the boy that he fancies, he still has major doubts about taking that first step and actually admitting publicly that he likes him. This leads the young boy to some pretty dark places, as we see how he feels he is viewed by the world, and we watch as his worst fears come to the fore.

Despite its simple animation style and pared back narrative, the main thrust of Do We Have A Chance? is still very effective. The darkness that the young boy feels, along with the judgement offered by the rest of society, is well handled and easily felt by the audience. But rather than just focus on the troubles and difficulties, which do have serious consequences if there is no support or guidance around on offer, Galdi chooses to highlight these issues and then move on to a more positive, and even helpful, resolution.

This gives Do We Have A Chance? a slight feel of a public service broadcast, as it does its best to educate and so replicate the real life thoughts, feelings and concerns of teens who may be questioning their sexuality, or already know that they are gay. Its gentle style and accessible tone mean that the film could be shown in classrooms to high school children as a way into discussion about the subject, especially the darker parts of where being judged and ostracised can lead a person, and also how we can offer support or behave as an ally to someone who might need a bit of help.

At just under five-minutes, there’s not a lot of time to go into too much detail and so Do We Have A Chance? remains as a simple, easy lead in to the subject, but one which tells its story with a lot of heart.