Emmalie El Fadli and Hansof Waller’s new film is one to watch
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES PROVIDED
Think strap-on sperm inseminators. Oversharing at a child’s birthday party. And a queer couple that you’ll likely want to become best friends with. Sold? It sounds like you need to check out You And Me Makes Three.
Emmalie El Fadli and Hansof Waller’s short film You And Me Makes Three follows Alannah (Maria Oxley Boardman) and Amara (Dani Moseley) on their journey to parenthood. Picture this: DIY home inseminations, lots of doctor’s appointments and big decisions to make. The cast is completed by the pair’s best mates, David (Kelvin Ade) and Tom (Alexander Morris), and Amara’s mum (Kemi Adekoya).
At the heart of this film is queer love thriving. Alannah and Amara feel like a couple you could bump into in a coffee shop. The relationship between them feels organic, rooted in the real-life experiences of queer people navigating the start of their fertility journey. Both Dani and Maria expertly move between moments of pure comedic genius and quiet beats of reflection, mimicking the ups and downs of this long, complicated journey.
Stories about queer parenthood are few and far between. You And Me Makes Three does not shy away from its subject matter. Alannah and Amara discuss everything from the cost of the process, finding a donor and talk openly about their feelings towards the process. In particular, Amara’s final speech as the partner not carrying the child was tear-jerkingly evocative. These conversations aren’t just powerful; they are crucial.
Family – both chosen and biological – is also a key part of what makes this film feel so warm. It’s a testament to the importance of having these support systems around us, especially during such volatile times. A reminder that it takes a village – not just donor sperm – to start this process.
Most of all, You And Me Makes Three is feel-good queer joy to the max. With jokes and scenes that will legitimately make you laugh-out-loud, it’s a story that you can root for and get behind even if you don’t plan to go on your own fertility journey. In 18 minutes, you learn to care about these characters like they are your friends. It’s expert filmmaking, and desperately needed at this moment for LGBTQIA+ representation.
You can watch a screening of You And Me Makes Three at Sofia Pride (2 June) or follow their Instagram @youandmemakesthreefilm for more updates.
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