Exploring Teen Coming-Of-Age Tale with Catholic School Girls’ Choir in 'Little Trouble Girls' - Contenders International Director Urška Djukic

Urka Djukic discovered the spark for her first feature, Little Trouble Girls, while listening to a Catholic school girls choir perform a traditional Slovenian folk song. The film has been selected as Slovenias entry for the International Feature Film category at the Oscars.

It was an incredibly moving experience, though I couldnt immediately pinpoint why, Djukic shared during a panel discussion at Deadlines Contenders Films: International event. The music itself was powerful, but there was something deeper. It was the awakening of young girls voices, completely open and expressive.

She reflected on the historical suppression of womens voices and recalled seeing priests in the front row enjoying the choir. The contrast struck me these men devoted to celibacy listening to such free voices. I felt compelled to explore this dynamic in my work.

Little Trouble Girls follows 16-year-old Lucia (Jara Sofija Ostan), a shy girl who joins her schools all-girls choir and quickly befriends the charismatic Ana-Maria (Mina vajge). When the choir attends an intensive weekend rehearsal at a countryside convent, Lucia becomes drawn to a mysterious restoration worker, testing her friendships and challenging her understanding of herself. Through this journey, she confronts her emerging sexuality and personal beliefs, creating tension within the choir.

The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in February, with U.S. distribution handled by Kino Lorber. Actress Jara Sofija Ostan admitted she had limited singing experience before filming. I wasnt confident in my singing, but learning to use my body to produce sound was fascinating, she said. Singing became a crucial part of Lucias journey, allowing the character to find her voice and personal freedom on screen.

Cinematographer Lev Predan Kawarski highlighted the importance of early collaboration. I joined rehearsals six months before filming, which shaped how the film was shot. Being immersed in the rehearsals allowed us to capture the story from the perspective of a young girl coming of age, he explained. The process felt very natural and fluid.

Author: Ava Mitchell