IMITATION GIRL: A Sci-Fi Take On A Performance-Driven Character Study

Imitation Girl, written and directed by Natasha Kermani, follows an alien, in the form of a black sludge, which takes shape as the first image it encounters, which happens to be a magazine with adult film star, Julianna (Lauren Ashley Carter), on the cover. The film easily goes between the lives of both Julianna and her imitation.

A Mixture of Tone

Imitation Girl had tone shifts throughout the film, and even though they felt jarring at times, I liked how the tones shifted as the characters changed and discovered themselves. Part of me enjoyed how the film took a plot, which very easily could have fallen into a bad comedy and made something more interesting out of it. The focus on sci-fi and horror made some scenes unnecessarily jarring. In some scenes, I felt the score of the film didn’t fit what was being expressed on screen, but as the film went along, I started to like how the score and even the tone progressed along with its central characters.

When this imitation first comes across other people, brother and sister Saghi (Neimah Djourabchi) and Khahar (Sanam Erfani), her stilted and unsure actions were meant with a dark and dissonant score, highlighting the unease between her and her new acquaintances. As time goes by, and she develops relationships with Saghi and Khahar, the score is sweeter and more melodic.

Imitation Girl shined when it focused on the character study aspects of its plot of questioning identity and our place in the universe. Mixing a more comedic plot with a more serious tone worked, but at times, it felt like they went with moments which should belong in a more comedic film, such as the imitation learning how to pee and eating food out of the garbage. I understand the place these scenes had in this film, but they felt disconnected from the tone of the rest of the film.

Imitation Girl did a wonderful job of building a character with a job most films would use to make cheap jokes. Julianna’s career as an adult film star was used to show the choices she made, and wasn’t chosen to fulfill male fantasies. I especially appreciated that the imitation making friends and starting a relationship with Saghi didn’t have an undertone of a man getting a porn star girlfriend. Saghi and Khahar didn’t seem to know this girl they found was modeled after anyone else.

They took her in and helped her learn about the world, giving her a positive outlook on life. Her moments of happiness preparing food and relaxing in the grass worked well to show the differences between this imitation and Julianna, who struggled through her life. Both characters were connected by a desire to understand their place in this world.

Tethered by Strong Performances

Imitation Girl works, and so much of this is because of its strong central performances from Lauren Ashley Carter, as both Julianna and her imitation. Carter did a wonderful job of portraying the wide-eyed wonder of an alien discovering everything this world has to offer for the first time. Splicing this with her performance as Julianna, a woman who is tired of her life and the struggles she deals with on a daily basis, showcases Carter’s range and talent.

Watching Carter’s two performances in the film is a treat. Her performances are so strong and unique to the character, you never once get distracted by these two distinct personalities being so visually similar. The imitation seems both naive and all-knowing. She seems to glide through her new life, discovering new ways to be happy, but with the underlying sadness of never truly knowing how she fits into this world. Julianna seems rough around the edges, but as the film progresses, you get more and more access to her thought process and the regret she feels for the way her life went.

Carter does such a wonderful job portraying these characters, who are both so different, yet both struggling to make sense out of the universe and their places inside it. She holds the film up, helping the story unfold by giving life and depth to both central characters.

Imitation Girl: Conclusion

Imitation Girl is an interesting character study focusing on women asking the questions: Who am I? and What do I have to show for my life? Lauren Ashley Carter gives strong performances as both Julianna and her imitation in this unique and captivating film about identity.

If you have seen Imitation Girl, what did you think? Are you interested in seeing more character studies of women from women writers and directors?

Imitation Girl is available now on VOD and was released April 20th in select theaters.