Filmmaker Statement

Spaghetti and Lipstick is a coming-of-age story about Karina, a 17-year-old girl rushing into adulthood. Karina eagerly prepares for a date, using her mother's makeup and jewelry, but her immaturity and naivety lead to a series of disasters when her mother, Lenka, comes home. I took inspiration for Karina and Lenka’s relationship from my own mother, a woman I’ve unexpectedly started to grow into despite how hard I’ve tried not to. Karina idolizes adulthood and starts to become her mother. She believes growing up fast will solve everything. But adults don’t have everything figured out. Lenka, like Karina, faces romance awkwardly, taking on the traits of a teenager in the process. Both the adults and the teens in the story struggle to reveal their true selves, but ultimately truthful confrontations lead to personal growth and familial strength. The story reminds us that romance is messy at any age, and relationships should be approached playfully, without taking yourself too seriously.