Soundtrack to Sixteen is the first film from the Shakespeare Sisters: Hillary and Anna-Elizabeth Shakespeare. They have thrown themselves headfirst into filmmaking, breaking away from their respective degrees in Physics and German. A bold decision that has proved to be successful as their commitment has certainly paid off.
The most noticeable thing about Soundtrack To Sixteen is the level of care and attention that has been woven into every fibre of the film. The title credits are beautifully illustrated in a way that captures the vibrancy of London. The added detail of the illustrated titles merging into the live action of the film is a great touch – right from the beginning, the investment in this film is apparent. Even beyond the film, the Shakespeare sisters maintain high standards as their websites are visually impressive and the continued use of the vibrant illustrations ties everything together nicely.
Immediately we are presented with a somewhat familiar narration – the voice of our inner teenage anxieties. Regardless of whether viewers directly or retrospectively relate to the fact that the ages of 16 to 18 are especially turbulent, Maisy (Scarlett Marshall) does an excellent job of communicating these feelings. The difficulty of muddling through life at the age of 16 is a strong driving force for the film both thematically and in the narrative. This gives weight to the teenage experience in a direct and focused way.
Soundtrack To Sixteen is forward thinking in its rounded presentation of the teenage experience as it gives a voice to both the female and male perspective. Ben (James Calloway) has slightly different problems to Maisy; his friends are like a band of brothers as they explore new territory together whereas Maisy finds herself trying to fit in with the wrong people. Ben’s troubles are more academically centred. He feels like his is trying much harder than some people in the class yet finds himself slipping further and further behind.
Another valuable aspect of the film is the relationship between Maisy and her younger sister, Holly (Holly Wilderspin). Their interactions are genuine, engaging and heartfelt – perhaps inspired by the Shakespeare sisters’ own experiences. I must admit, my younger self is highly jealous of Holly’s Sylvanian Family collection!
When Ben and Maisy meet at a party in a queue for the toilet (we Brits do love a good queue) their encounter is brief. It isn’t until later when they bump into each by chance on a bus that Maisy and Ben start to become friends. It is at this point that the title of the film is explained: Ben has a mixtape of songs he listened to over the last year – it’s his soundtrack to fifteen. After discovering they have a similar taste in music, the pair strike up a friendship. They are immediately open and honest with one another but their extra-diegetic voiceovers betray uncertainty and awkwardness. This results in a high level of self-reflexivity in the film and makes the characters more engaging and relatable.
A great aspect of Soundtrack To Sixteen is its specific focus on A levels. For many students across England the persistent anxiety of keeping up with workloads and hitting target grades is particularly relatable. This focus grounds the film in a universal British experience rather than playing up to international audiences’ expectations of a British film. For example the phrase ‘hit the ground running’ is a staple greeting in sixth forms and colleges across the country. It attempts to explain to fresh faced recruits that A levels are an entirely different beast to GCSEs. For many, the transition to A levels works less like ‘hitting the ground running’ and more like hitting the ground face first and getting dragged along by a wild horse. Soundtrack to Sixteen deals with this using sensitivity as well as realism. The film reminds us what an isolating time this can be but provides the knowledge that you are not alone in these experiences – everyone has had the mad hunt for a clear plastic pencil case on the night before an exam!
The protagonists of the film are excellent and the supporting cast, particularly Ben’s friends, provide a colourful backdrop for Ben and Maisy’s blossoming friendship. Scarlett Marshall is sensitive and insecure while also maintaining a sense of self. James Calloway perfectly captures the awkward tension between over-confidence and insecurity. Another wonderful addition to the film is the music. One would hope that a film with a reference to mixtapes in the title has a good musical score and Soundtrack To Sixteen certainly provides that. With original music written and performed by Patrick Savage and Holeg Spies, I would certainly love to see this soundtrack released on vinyl!
The Shakespeare Sisters have entered into the world of filmmaking with flair. Soundtrack To Sixteen adds something more to the traditional boy meets girl narrative and I’m excited to see what their next film, Much Ado, brings to the table! Soundtrack To Sixteen will be screening in select cinemas in March – click here for more information.
Watch the trailer for the film now!