Still Wylde | A Short Film about The Ups and Downs of Pregnancy

I watched Still Wylde on YouTube, and it hit me as a deeply honest and moving portrayal of pregnancy, love, and unexpected loss. The film focuses on Gertie (played by Ingrid Haas) and her on-again, off-again boyfriend Sam, as they face a surprise pregnancy and the emotional journey that follows.

From the very start, I was drawn into Gertie’s life—her bittersweet excitement and nervous anticipation were so real. Ingrid Haas captures this beautifully, and when the situation unexpectedly shifts, the tone becomes raw and intimate. I felt her shock and grief with each silent moment after the tragedy, and her honesty cut deep.

The film mixes humor with heartbreak. I appreciated how it didn’t shy away from awkward or funny moments—like their banter about baby names or Gertie’s odd cravings. These touches created warmth and reminded me that life continues in its small moments, even amid pain. It felt like watching someone I knew, not an actress playing a role.

Visually, the film keeps things simple and true to life. Close-up shots of Gertie’s face—her tears, tense lips, and determined gaze—spoke louder than any dramatic setup. The scenes in the convenience store or home kitchen felt familiar and grounded. The lilting conversations became more meaningful in these everyday spaces.

The sound design is understated but effective. I heard normal life—traffic, soft laughter, Gertie’s quiet words—almost a soundtrack of reality. In one interview, Ingrid Haas explained she likes using “levity” in dark stories, and she succeeds here: the film never feels heavy-handed, even when it touches on miscarriage .

Still Wylde exceeded my expectations by showing how life can change in an instant—and how, even in loss, small moments of connection hold great value. I was struck by how it approached miscarriage directly yet sensitively. Gertie’s line, “Nobody talks about it, but I’m going to talk about it,” felt like a revolution in twelve minutes .

I would recommend this film to anyone who wants to see emotional storytelling portrayed with honesty and humor. It’s short but powerful, and its message about real grief and resilience stayed with me long after it ended.

In Still Wylde, I connect deeply with Gertie (played by Ingrid Haas), a young woman who discovers she's unexpectedly pregnant after an on‑again, off‑again relationship with Sam. As the protagonist, Gertie’s central goal is to figure out what she truly wants for her life—embracing the possibility of motherhood while grappling with fear, uncertainty, and her complicated connection to Sam.

The antagonist in her story is not a person, but the emotional rollercoaster she experiences—captured in daily life and awkward interactions like the convenience store clerk’s well‑intentioned but awkward questions (“We have walnuts?”). This emotional turmoil stems from a principle that she struggles against: “Life should go according to plan.” Instead, Gertie finds herself facing confusion, hesitation, and an uncertain future.

Her struggle unfolds through small, poignant moments: the visible shift in her demeanor as she processes her pregnancy, the tension with Sam, and her attempt to navigate a world that now feels unpredictable. One moment she laughs; the next, she’s in tears—capturing how hope and fear often collide.

The climax arrives when Gertie makes a choice—not by grand gesture, but through quiet resolution. Whether she embraces the pregnancy or leans back into independence, that decision marks her moment of truth: she no longer lets fear define her next step.

In the resolution, Gertie hasn’t sorted out every aspect of her life. Sam remains part of her story, but not the answer. Instead, she has found something essential: agency in uncertainty—a willingness to move forward, imperfectly, with bravery. In Still Wylde, Gertie’s real win isn’t in knowing the future—it’s in choosing to live it, on her own terms.

Published by: Ebenezer Amankwah Kwaning

#Visualstorytelling #IVS2025 #UniMACIFT