- Release year: 2025
- Director: Joscha Bongard.
- Producers: Lisa Purtscher and Lotta Schmelzer.
- Screenplay by: Joscha Bongard and Nicole Rüthers.
- Cinematography by: Jakob Sinsel.
- Music by: Jonas Vogler.
Synopsis: An influencer family begins to unravel as their only daughter finds out that her parents are planning to have another baby.
Shotgun Commentary: A breathtaking story that could not be more relevant.
Review
Babystar is a German drama that taps into a very relevant question. Now that social media like MySpace or YouTube has been around for twenty years and Instagram has been active for fifteen, what happens when the children of users who post everything online grow and find their whole life story has been made public without their explicit consent?
This is an issue that many individuals have to face now. A problem so big that it has its own name: “sharenting”. Sharenting is the overexposure of children on social media at the hands of their parents. The question is, how much is too much? Is there a difference between overexposure and exposure when the subject is a minor who has not given consent to make their life public?
Between a rock and a hard place
This film follows Luca (Maja Bons), a teenager who has grown up in a family of influencers. Her parents and she have several Instagram accounts, a podcast, a YouTube channel, etc. As she grows, she begins to have doubts about her lifestyle and whether that is what she wants from life. However, the tipping point comes when her parents announce that they are having another child. This sends her into a spiral of jealousy, doubt, fear, and resentment as she is forced to confront the reality of her situation and what a new baby might mean for the family dynamics.
What begins as the fear of being replaced leads her into a way bigger subject, the realisation that her parents have documented her whole life publicly, including intimate moments and thoughts. Furthermore, they are intending on doing the exact same thing with her future sibling. This feature is not only a coming-of-age film but also a coming-of-digital-age film.
Children are the future… but what future is that?
The world is rapidly changing around us, and it looks more and more terrifying the more you watch the news. As a result, protecting the most vulnerable group of humans—children—should be a priority. Instead, they are being exploited in a trillion different ways by the very people who are supposed to protect them. Every day, we see politicians and other influential people use their influence to abuse children and suffer zero consequences. But when the exploitation comes from your own family, what is left for a child? What kind of safe space can a kid know or create when all the figures who are supposed to protect them do the opposite?
Luca’s journey proposes an answer to this question. An answer that is less than ideal but painfully believable. Her “breakdown”, which is arguably more of an artistic display of resentment and rebellion, is simply masterful. Much like it happened with Britney Spears in 2007, Luca’s resistance against the powers that control her is read as a sign of mental decline by those around her who, instead of listening to her, decide to censor her call for help.
Final thoughts
The story is structured completely around Luca’s point of view. Still, the writing and cinematography make sure that you are placed alongside her and not as a mere spectator of her struggle. There is a very clear difference between the audience of the film and the consumers of Luca’s content from the very beginning. This approach makes the viewing experience more comfortable, which allows you to focus on the message of the film without feeling conflicted about your position in the narrative.
All in all, Babystar is a beautiful film that highlights a very new, very real issue that minors all over the world have to face. It was hard enough to keep them and their images private when they all get a phone without any digital literacy and cybersecurity being taught at all, but when the threat comes from irresponsible parents, the problem becomes even harder to manage and regulate.
Advice to take from this movie:
- Don’t share your kids’ private life without consent.
- A little empathy goes a long way.
- Sometimes going a little crazy is the right call.
What’s your take? Have you watched Babystar? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀