Girl Asleep

The story unfolds in a late 1970s setting, reflected in fashion, music, and school culture of the era. It centers on a teenager navigating friendships, parties, and social hierarchies typical of that decade. The dreamlike sequences contrast with the ordinary suburban life, highlighting the transition from childhood to adolescence.

Greta's home sits in a quiet late 1970s suburb, a hub of family routines and social expectations. The familiar living spaces anchor her experiences, while the party atmosphere brings underlying tensions to the surface. Behind the house, a dark, inviting forest becomes the gateway to Greta's surreal journey. These locations ground the film's blend of everyday adolescence and magical disruption.

🎈 Coming of Age

Greta's 15th birthday marks a transition from insecurity to self-definition. The party and the surreal journey force her to confront discomfort, peer pressure, and her own desires. Through encounters with fantasy beings and her inner child, she learns to affirm her own path. The conclusion emphasizes embracing change rather than clinging to the past.

🪞 Identity

Greta wrestles with how others perceive her versus how she sees herself. The pressure to fit an idealized image—embodied by the popular trio and the ill-fitting dress—clashes with her emerging sense of self. The dream world acts as a mirror for her inner conflicts, guiding her toward self-acceptance. The narrative suggests authenticity is a personal choice, not a group mandate.

🤝 Peer Pressure and Authenticity

The popular girls push Greta toward friendship in a way that reveals the cruelty of social hierarchies. Elliott's sincere crush offers a counterweight to rejection and fear, highlighting genuine connection amid social chaos. The forest sequence dramatizes the consequences of yielding to peer pressure. Greta ultimately chooses her own path, redefining what friendship means to her.