How often do you take a photo and wish to change something—adjust the angle, add a filter, erase lines or scars? Imagine liking the unfiltered version of you. What if aging was celebrated as a testament to life, not something to erase? And now, what if girls grew up knowing their worth had nothing to do with their looks?
Laugh Lines is a raw, immersive documentary challenging beauty standards and inviting viewers to embrace their authentic selves. Shot in an observational, vérité style, it follows renowned Australian photographer Cait Miers as she embarks on a journey of accountability. Moving away from the curated perfection she once championed, Cait photographs women from all walks of life, make-up-free, across the globe. From Hollywood to high school classrooms, and from Australia’s indigenous traditions to inner-city professionals, this experiment confronts how we see ourselves. Through her lens, Cait explores our insecurities, the forces that benefit from them, and how we can break free.
The film interweaves Cait’s journey with the stories of four women from different backgrounds, each going makeup-free for a month. A teenage girl, her self-critical mother, a polished influencer, and an aging actress confront societal beauty standards tied to their stages of life. Their stories delve into identity, aging, patriarchy, and self-worth, revealing a universal struggle to redefine beauty.
Laugh Lines also examines our disconnect with nature, weaving personal stories, expert insights, and historical context. From indigenous practices to South Korea’s plastic surgery culture, it captures a shared battle and the possibility for change. This isn’t a takedown of the beauty industry; it’s about choice—defining beauty on our terms and seeing wrinkles, scars, and lines as part of our stories, not flaws to erase.
Laugh Lines dares to imagine a world where women stand before the mirror and say, “I am enough.” Because we are—we just have to choose to see it.
