BLOG · Review: “Fantasy”

Written by Linda Krnáčová
Master Film and Photographic Studies at Leiden University

Fantasy (2025) is a Slovenian film directed by Kukla, that addresses topics of identity, sexuality, escape, liberation and desire. The film features three friends, Mihrije, Sina and Jasna, who are different from the other girls in their town. They dress like boys and present themselves in a more masculine manner, which is not tolerated by their conservative families, as they’re constantly criticised for their looks and reminded that they don’t fit within the margins of society. Thus, when we meet them, the girls fight a constant battle with a world which is, in their own words, not made for them.

Everything changes when they meet Fantasy, a transgender woman, who lives life by her own rules. Her world is shown to be multicoloured, vibrant, glittery and sparkly, which is contrasted with the grey and colourless aesthetics of the housing blocks the girls live in. Fantasy doesn’t stick to the norm; she does what she wants, and she doesn’t care about what other people may think. Moreover, the film operates in a kind of magical realism, which makes the spectator question the reality of the events they’re being presented with and invites them to open their imagination to the unknown. Many elements of the film remain hidden and unexplained, allowing each viewer to leave with an experience and interpretation of the film that is entirely their own. 

On their journey of self-discovery, the girls start to drift apart, as Mihrije is influenced by Fantasy the most, while Sina and Jasna distance themselves and stay critical of her. Meanwhile, Mihrije revels in the freedom Fantasy represents, as she stays restricted by her family, which wants to marry her off to an unknown man. In Fantasy’s company, Mihrije can be herself, trying on different makeup and clothes, uncovering a new identity in the process; an identity that she was too scared to acknowledge before. The closer she gets to Fantasy, the more she drifts away from Sina and Jasna, who, frustrated by her absence, have to find their own paths.

Ultimately, the film tells a story of three friends growing apart, choosing different destinies and carving out identities for themselves, some with happier endings than others. Moreover, it shows how important it is to be in control of your own destiny, instead of waiting for someone to save you. But did Fantasy save her, or did Mihrije end up saving herself? Find out for yourself during the festival at Filmhuis Den Haag!

Saturday 7 November 12:15