“A charming debut by a promising directorial voice.”

We often underestimate the importance of representation, since we’ve grown accustomed to only certain voices being elevated in much of the mainstream media. However, there’s always merit in seeking out other stories that are less familiar or relatable to some, or embracing them when they present themselves to us. This is certainly the case for Alina Şerban, who transitions from actor to filmmaker with her directorial debut, I Matter, a poignant and captivating social drama. The film follows Rebeca, a teenager who has been in foster care after her father was sent to prison. His release is imminent, and she patiently awaits being reunited with him, not realising that it may be difficult to restructure her life after years in an orphanage. Her daily routine is only further complicated by the bullying (or perhaps casual racism is a more appropriate term) she experiences from her peers, who treat her differently due to her Roma ancestry. She brushes off all these concerns and chooses to embrace her own ambitions of being an actor, not realising that many obstacles still stand in her way. The film builds a foundation on a simple, straightforward premise while also gradually developing some additional ideas (many of which are drawn from the director’s own experiences) that elevate it beyond the run-of-the-mill social realist drama we may expect. I Matter is a heartbreakingly honest exploration of the trials and tribulations of a young girl trying to make sense of a world that she is desperate to be a part of, while also battling against the oppressive forces (both external and within herself) that lead her to experience enormous self-doubt and the sense of being perpetually out of place.

In I Matter, Şerban is working with a few common themes likely to resonate with many viewers, even if we may not be familiar with the culturally specific elements that emerge throughout the narrative. The film is a relatively conventional coming-of-age story about a young woman caught in that awkward stage between adolescence and adulthood, a time when she has to make decisions about her future, while also developing the necessary skills to achieve those ambitions. Despite the challenges she encounters, Rebeca is someone whose life is defined by her happy disposition and ability to see positivity in every situation – or at least that is what we are led to believe. But as the film progresses, we see her encountering a variety of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, which is where the director adds more specific elements, particularly around the protagonist’s Roma identity, which is shown to be a source of contention throughout the film. This character was born into a world where she is constantly told that she doesn’t belong, labelled an outsider by people who have been taught to reject anyone who doesn’t fit the ideal. Yet, Rebeca persists and doesn’t succumb to the pressure to retreat, guided by her ambitions and the defiance to stand up against a system that restricts people like her from living her life. Şerban introduces many of the conversations we’d expect, such as identity and the importance of embracing what makes one different from those around us, bringing it all together to form a very strong and deeply meaningful social drama.

I Matter needs to process an abundance of difficult subject matter in order to reach its very moving conclusion, and the journey to get there contains some strong, dense emotions. A coming-of-age drama that touches on racism and cultural biases (and a range of other topics that factor into the narrative as well) is fertile ground for a discussion that could’ve been far more heavy-handed and gaudy, which makes the director’s constant effort to focus on creating something authentic all the more admirable. The primary focus of the film is a character study of this young woman (portrayed by Denisa Farcaș, who is extraordinary in her ability to infuse the character with layers of complexity) as she tries to hold onto her optimism for the future, transitioning from a happy-go-lucky worldview in which she is constantly hopeful, to someone who begins to be crushed by the burden of reality, tempted to surrender to the hateful words thrown at her. A less sensitive approach would’ve turned I Matter into a series of overwrought moments of preaching, rather than a dynamic and rich exploration of a character trying to make her way through a life she is determined to conquer on her own, realizing that she has an abundance of self-worth and is deserving of a place at the table, even when the dissenting voices that surround her try to convince her otherwise. Şerban is focused on crafting a delicate and meaningful exploration of this character’s journey, and the refusal to become too blatant with its emotions, while also making sure that it acknowledges the difficulties endured by the protagonist and the people she represents, goes into making I Matter a far more engaging affair than it might’ve been with a less attentive director at the helm.

I Matter proves to have layers of complexity that are not impenetrable, but do present themselves as being slightly more complicated than we often find with traditional coming-of-age stories. Part of this is based on the director’s insistence on telling an authentic and honest story, built around the importance of never forgetting one’s roots and where they come from, especially when resisting the pressure from people who seem determined to belittle anyone they deem unworthy of their place in society, learning to be confident and self-assured against all odds. It’s difficult to tell such a story without it becoming idealistic (and there are a few moments where it does veer in that direction, but intentionally so), but using a simple and effective approach, where every emotion is intentionally chosen and serves a specific purpose, Şerban creates something incredibly effective. Rebeca may be a fictional character, but she represents entire generations of people who are forced to grow up sooner than normal and take on additional responsibilities that tend to be burdensome to people so young, all the while searching for a place to call home, both physically and metaphorically. It all becomes a very effective exploration of the process of seeking stability in an often disorienting world, which can be a daunting task at first, but which becomes far easier as time goes on. Optimistic but realistic, and driven by a sincerity that can only come from someone who is speaking from experience, I Matter is a small but very special film, a charming debut by a promising directorial voice who proves that the most effective stories are often the simplest on the surface.