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The sex-positive, coming-of-age dramedy “Slut in a Good Way” is a film by, for, and about women and the female experience — and it’s remarkable.

At first, I thought Slut In A Good Way would be a tricky film for me to tackle.

I almost always write about horror, and the bloodier the better in my opinion. But one day, as I was working at my Alamo Drafthouse, this trailer came on and I found myself glued to the screen, laughing and enjoying the small glimpse I got of Slut In A Good Way (which also happens to be the next Drafthouse Recommends title). I felt compelled to challenge myself and dive into this film that seemed to unapologetically explore some of those touchy female centric topics of slut shaming, friendship, and discovering oneself.

Writer Catherine Leger and Director Sophie Lorain combine superforces to create this fantastic, black and white, moving banner of the double standards we encounter in life, especially being female.

In this French-Canadian coming-of-age tale, we are introduced to Charlotte (Marguerite Bouchard) and her two friends Aube (Rose Adam) and Megane (Romane Denis). The energetic trio are shopping for a sexy ensemble Charlotte wishes to obtain for an evening with Samuel, her boyfriend. Unfortunately for Charlotte, no outfit will save her relationship, and her heart is broken.

This is where I fell in love with these girls and their chemistry with each other. The friendship between them and the dialogue exchanged was refreshingly real. Like any good pals, Aube and Megane let Charlotte revel in the inevitable mopiness of her unexpected breakup, get her good and drunk and let her cry it out. Director Sophie Lorain did a masterful job of capturing the vulnerability of not just Charlotte, but of all the young people in this film.

As a type of breakup remedy, the girls elect to apply at a local toy store that has loads of man candy walking around for them to interact with. This Toy Depot can perhaps be viewed as a type of Pandora’s Box, but it also serves as an integral destination on Charlotte’s journey. It is here, that she finds ample opportunities to experience what she could not with Samuel.

Her relationship with her ex left her unfulfilled and desperate for male attention, but she needed that heartbreak to grow as a person. She enjoys all the flirting she receives at the toy store by her new male coworkers, and why shouldn’t she? But this personal sexual revolution for Charlotte is also a hard learned lesson. Her human response of rebounding and exploring is shone under a different light than if she were a man. Boys get high fives while girls get called a slut. It’s that simple, and our protagonist painfully learns this.

Slut In A Good Way was originally titled Charlotte Has Fun, which would’ve been fine too, I guess. But this title matches the fearlessness and truth this female driven story possesses.

It is probably one of the best coming-of-age stories I have ever stumbled upon, and I can’t wait to watch it again and tell whoever will listen to me to give this one a shot.  It is incredibly well-made, well acted and was just a sheer fucking delight to experience. I swapped blood and guts for a story about boy-crazy girls, and I couldn’t have had a better time doing so.

Slut in a Good Way is now in theaters beginning today, March 29th. 

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