Tiger Stripes (3 Stars)

This is the 26th film in the Stuttgart Fantasy Film Festival.

"Tiger Stripes" is the first Malaysian film I've ever watched. It's been highly praised by critics, but it's been banned in Malaysia itself.

The film is about three young Moslem girls who visit a girls school. They're wilder than most of their classmates. They like to post videos of themselves dancing on Tik Tok.

When Zaffan has her first period, she's rejected by her friends. They say she smells bad. She doesn't get much support from her parents. She begins to act strangely, and a local exorcist claims she's possessed. He tries to cast out the demon, but there's no demon. She's turning into a tiger.

The director says that the film is a parable about the suppression of women in Malaysia. I can see that. But not all young girls can establish themselves as strong women by turning into tigers.