Experiencing Interruptions?

Gâteau Girl (Pussy Pussy Pussy)

The character “Gâteau Gurl” eyes up her desires (the cake) in front of her as she rotates it, she allows herself to smell it, and this is when she feels herself break loose. She has to taste it, she can’t help herself, after she rubs a small amount of icing on her lips, it's too delicious, she must have it. She rips open her false mouth to reveal her real mouth underneath, yet she knows she must compose herself… she rushes to grab lipstick and sensually applies it, thinking of her desires. When she is prepared, she finally decides it’s time to take a bite, but she can’t just have just a bite, she claws into the cake with her long decorative nails and eats it with her hands. Finally being able to let go and revel in this moment she rubs the cake on her décollaté feeling every ounce of joy, no matter who’s watching. By exploring, she is rewarded with a ring, licks it clean and shows it off to the viewer.

  • Shanelle St. Hilaire
    Director
  • Rae Swan
    Videographer
  • Rae Swan
    Set Designer
  • Shanelle St. Hilaire
    Editor
  • Shanelle St. Hilaire
    Makeup Artist
  • Shanelle St. Hilaire
    Model / Actor
  • Shanelle Nicole-Marie St. St. Hilaire
    Costume Designer
  • Project Type:
    Experimental
  • Runtime:
    55 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 25, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Members Screening - Platform Gallery - 2024
    Winnipeg
    Canada
    November 13, 2024
  • MAWA Play Member's Show
    Winnipeg
    Canada
    November 1, 2024
Director Biography - Shanelle St. Hilaire

Shanelle St. Hilaire is a multi-disciplinary artist who specializes in painting and craft, currently focusing in beadwork, sound and digital programming.
St. Hilaire belongs to the Red River Métis community in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Treaty One Territory) where she was born and is currently practicing. They earned their honours BFA at The School of Art, University of Manitoba in 2023. She is a member at multiple arts organizations such as NIMAC (National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition), Urban Shaman, MAWA (Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art), Platform Arts Centre, AceArt Inc. St. Hilaire holds the position as a board member at CARFAC Manitoba, and is a part of The Nocturne Collective.
She finds inspiration in many areas of study such as plant science, gender identity, and the connection between human and nature, often marrying these concepts with feminist ideals. St. Hilaire’s work is rooted in research and process, prioritizing materials and techniques.

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Director Statement

I directed this film as a personal challenge and an opportunity to push my boundaries, to dive into performance art for the first time, and this project became a perfect exercise to experiment with filmmaking, to explore new forms of expression.

The film is designed to create discomfort in the viewer, a discomfort that stems from the decadence and destruction of the cake. The act of cake-fingering is visceral — embodying decadence and destruction in order to dissect indulgence as a concept. In many ways, it mirrors how our society, particularly in the beauty industry, commodifies pleasure and restraint in equally extreme ways. Beauty products are often named after sweets—“brownie," or "sugar cookie”(names from HUDA Beauty) —or sexual experiences—"orgasm," or "pussy control.” (names from NARS). These names embody the tempting allure of indulgence yet there is a societal expectation that femmes should contain those desires, they are labelled a “slut” for being to sexual, or “fat” for indulging in delicious foods. The cake is the object of that desire, a symbol of everything we crave but are told to suppress.

The character of Gâteau Gurl was inspired by the viral stocking face makeup trend, which I found both eerie and alluring. I wanted her to embody this paradox of indulgence and control, playing with the idea of someone exploring their desires but being constrained by external expectations.
This is why I chose to mask her face, it allowed me, as a new performer, to distance myself from my own discomfort in front of the camera and create a character who could both push and release boundaries without inhibition.

This film is a deeply personal project, a way for me to "let loose" and explore themes of excess, sensuality, and freedom. The cake represents more than just desire—it embodies the act of breaking free from control. Through the character’s indulgence, we see her moment of liberation, as she claws into the cake and revels in the pleasure of finally giving in to what she has longed for.

Working on a zero-budget project was also important to me as an emerging artist. It proves that creativity and resourcefulness, not money, are what drive innovation. With the help of Rae Swan, we’ve created something that speaks to the heart of the work I want to continue to make: raw, unapologetic, and created with what we have, not what we lack. Ultimately, this film is a lesson to let loose from your restraints, even if only for a moment.