God and religion meets The Internet and sex. Immovable object, unstoppable force.

Natalia Dyer lights up the screen in this short film that is wistfully familiar to anyone that's faced similar conflicts while growing up. I didn't attend a Catholic school, but I was raised Catholic, and - nostalgia isn't quite the right word, but this definitely brings some memories to call. The insular childhood. The staunch, archaic, and frankly harmful views of sex and social relationships. Self-discovery. VHS tapes.

In just 11 short minutes, writer and director Karen Maine says so much about the innocent ponderings that take us from curiosity to learning about our bodies; about the conflict between healthy, natural human behavior and the strict codes of conduct that are forced on us on societal and personal levels; and, notably, about the hypocrisy within the Catholic Church. All the while, we can't help but laugh: The whole scenario is both familiar and ridiculous, with those qualities feeding off one another in a loop.

The color in the picture seems a bit washed out, but perhaps that's intentional to aid the sense of nostalgia that's definitely built into 'Yes, god, yes.' Lines are duly delivered by the small cast while the camera lingers coyly on points of Alice's burgeoning interest. There's no mistaking that Dyer is centered here, and it's a joy to watch her very believably express the shock, confusion, uncertainty, and bliss that fills the short's duration. In 2021 she's already becoming a star, but one can only hope that there's much more ahead for her as an actress.

It's not at all difficult to find 'Yes, god, yes' online, and it's a quick, fun, amusing watch, if not a bit "not safe for work." Other films have explored this topic, certainly, but not necessarily with such a simple punch. Recommended view!

Dyer stars as a devout catholic teen who is having difficulty reconciling her newly found sexual desires with the catholic doctrine taught in her school. To help she goes on a 4 days catholic retreat with school mates and teachers where things become clearer.

Charming and not without wit, this takes some wonderful swipes at catholic hypocrisy without ramming it down your throat or requiring Dyer's character to doubt her belief in God. A good performance by Dyer, this is frighteningly believable yet enjoyable and a good worthwhile watch for all teenagers going through similar problems.

Karen Maine has written an interesting story with themes of religion, the internet, and sex. For the 11 minute run time, the short film never bores you and never wastes time. It is surprisingly well acted and visually funny at times. However, bland direction and and a boring set of colours hold it from being a great short film