Film Review: ME LITTLE ME: A Thoughtful Drama About a Woman’s Day-to-Day Struggles [SXSW 2022]

Me Little Me Review

Me Little Me (2022) Film Review from the 29th Annual South by Southwest Film Festival, a movie written and directed by Elizabeth Ayiku and starring A’Keyah Dasia Williams, Shamar Philippe, Tamir Elbassir, Elena Kornilova, Xiaowan Jin, Kristian Flores, Mariel Flores, Judith Eisenberg, Taylor Hauck, Niki J. Crawford, Jarrid Masse, Clark Moore, Brandon Sutton and RaSheda D. Terry. 

Director Elizabeth Ayiku’s Me Little Me is a very sincere dramatic picture that showcases a fine turn by its lead actress, A’Keyah Dasia Williams, as Mya, a woman struggling with an eating disorder. This movie chronicles Mya’s needs and wants in life and the support and encouragement she seeks which is so pivotal for her to find a certain happy medium in life.

Mya works for a car rental place which has rewarded her hard work and has come to expect a lot from her in terms of her job performance. This movie delves deep into Mya’s past and present and displays to the audience the reasons why she may have come to develop her eating disorder. While the picture expertly and realistically explores Mya’s professional and personal struggles, it also explains the background behind these struggles which makes the picture all the more effective as a result.

The diversity of the characters in Me Little Me is one of its biggest strengths. Many of the characters are flawed and portrayed in a true-to-life way that makes them easy to recognize as people who most certainly exist in real life. Issues of mental health and day-to-day living are explored through the film’s plot which includes the way Mya has worked her way up at her job to earn the respect that she so rightfully deserves yet finds it could all slip away from her if she doesn’t carefully walk on the tightrope so many workers find themselves on in real life. Mya’s personal struggles are also similar to ones people deal with every day and they are portrayed here in such a way that the character comes across as relatable despite her flaws.

Williams takes the central role in the picture and runs with it thus creating a truly intriguing female character that is one we see way less often in films than we need to. Williams captures all her character’s pains and passions to a tee. Mya’s relationship with her mom in the picture is also presented in a very distinct way that sheds light on the reasons behind her uneasiness regarding certain aspects of her life.

The supporting cast is strong. Clark Moore has a very difficult role in the picture as Mya’s boss, Davis, and it is to the actor’s credit that he comes across on screen the way many bosses seem to in everyday life. Bosses tend to challenge their employees and think little of the way they can affect their employees emotionally through the added pressures that are given to those workers seeking to secure competitive employment. Moore’s role is certainly well conveyed on screen and he more than holds his own beside Williams. RaSheda D. Terry serves as Mya’s sister, Rennel and Terry adds dimensions to the sister that helps the audience realize the reasons that Mya has found herself in the predicament she is currently in.

Me Little Me is shot in an authentically fascinating way but the picture has some limitations. Its brief running time (84 minutes) suggests that the movie may have had some budgetary constraints but, nevertheless, it must be seen. You’ll watch Mya and understand her predicament throughout the whole entire movie whether you have experienced anything her character goes through or not. That is not an easy feat for a film to achieve.

Filmmaker Elizabeth Ayiku is certainly a director to watch and A’Keyah Dasia Williams is a talent that should not be underestimated. Me Little Me is well worth seeing and is an emotional investment that the audience will find has plenty of rewards. Mya’s on-screen difficulties may just help audience members recognize their own personal struggles.

Rating: 8/10

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