Gillyfish – Stepping into different versions of ourselves -

Gillyfish is a quiet yet deeply personal short film that explores identity, connection, and the unexpected ways we process emotions. The story follows a young woman who takes on her girlfriend’s identity to confront her father, only to find something she didn’t expect—a moment of understanding in the most unlikely of places.

What I found most compelling about Gillyfish was how it doesn’t just focus on identity as a label, but as something fluid, something shaped by the roles we step into and the people we interact with. The protagonist’s journey isn’t just about deception—it’s about discovery, about seeing herself reflected in a new light. The film allows this transformation to unfold naturally, without forcing a resolution, making it feel real and relatable.

Visually, the film has a quiet intimacy that draws you in. There’s a subtle but powerful use of space—the way distance and framing emphasize isolation, how silences carry as much weight as words. The setting in Ireland adds another layer to the film, a physical place that mirrors the protagonist’s emotional displacement. It’s clear that director Sarah Sellman worked thoughtfully with the cast and crew to make every element feel authentic.

But what really stuck with me was the ending. Just when I thought I had the film figured out, it pulled the pieces together in a way I didn’t see coming. It wasn’t a dramatic twist, but something more personal—an unexpected shift that deepened everything that came before it. It made me reflect on how we sometimes find closure or connection in ways we never anticipated.

At its core, Gillyfish is about becoming—about stepping into different versions of ourselves, whether out of necessity, curiosity, or the simple need to understand something bigger than us. It’s a film that invites reflection, not through heavy-handed messaging, but through the quiet, human moments it captures so well. I walked away thinking about how identity isn’t just about who we are, but also about who we allow ourselves to be.