Director Molly Manners, known for her leading work on the television series One Day (2026), makes her feature-film debut with Extra Geography (2026), a quintessentially British schoolgirl drama based on Rose Tremain’s short story. Extra Geography is a tender exploration of a brash and primal kind of girlhood complete with violent hockey games, bloodied knees and disorganised lunch queues.
At a secluded boarding school in Northern England, bookish best friends Minna and Flic make a deal to fall in love with the first person they see to appear more worldly. Split into five acts and accompanied by a spirited Rococo soundtrack, the film is laced with the influence of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Minna and Flic’s complex and intense friendship is a gem that is rare to find outside of adolescence, marred by jealousy and unfamiliar emotions yet to be fully grasped by either girl.
As Minna starts gaining attention from the neighbouring boys’ school, Flic’s fervent plan not to fall in love until age twenty-five begins to unravel, and difficult emotions start rising to the surface. Reminiscent of British coming-of-age flicks such as Wild Child (2008), St Trinian’s (2007) and the like, Extra Geography is an appealing and affectionate portrayal of all-consuming female friendships, delving into themes such as teenage insecurities, queer identity, and the intensity of growing up, all the while being poignantly staged in the slightly stale but blissfully isolated corridors of an all-girls boarding school. Born from a relatively simple plot, this film thrives on its authentic cast and charming camera angles, making it impossible not to pull on your heartstrings.
Photo by Darya Tryfanava on Unsplash.
