Student Work

Birta, a teenager in Vestmannaeyjar, prepares to hunt for lost pufflings. Jessica Bishopp documented her dedication in this hopeful, reflective short film.

A teenager wielding a cardboard box, out in the dark hours of the night, eyes surveying the darkness under the nebulous glow of a yellow street light.

I recently watched “Puffling,” a short film by Jessica Bishopp that deals with coming of age and the theme of uncertainty, which, as a rising senior in high school, deeply resonated with me. 

The documentary follows two teens, Birta and Selma, on their mission to save baby puffins in Vestmannaeyjar, an archipelago in Iceland. Pufflings use moonlight to find their way to the ocean, however, as more city lights appear, an increasing number of fledglings have mistakenly landed in an urban jungle. Thus, venturing out into the city, scouting for lost pufflings, and leading them to the ocean has become a local tradition. 

Bishopp masterfully portrays the initiative of these unlikely heroes. Audiences journey with Birta and Selma on their late-night hunts for pufflings and get to know them through intimate scenes. We witness Selma braiding her sister’s hair and enjoying ice cream with a friend; Birta swipes through selfies of herself and her father, who’s off at sea, and fishes with her brother. Both girls are reaching independence and beginning their lives as adults, with Birta planning to remain in Vestmannaeyjar out of love for her hometown, and Selma traveling to find work. 

While Selma expresses excitement to move abroad, she also worries that she’ll “get lost” or “nothing will work out” for her. These fears are omnipresent in young adults– with college and job applications and new environments, we all just hope that we’ll find where we belong. And just like pufflings who lose their way, sometimes we may need a helping hand.

The film also serves as a powerful tool for climate activists, exhibiting the consequences of environmentally harmful actions. For example, Birta worries that puffins would go extinct without their work. And during a phone call between Birta and her father, he mentions difficulty catching fish, possibly due to overfishing. 

Bishopp’s documentation of these two remarkable young women demonstrates the positive change we ourselves can enact, broadening our view of changemakers from a select few. For those feeling lost or unsure about the future, “Puffling” shows us that we are not alone and proves the endurance of human kindness and hope for a better tomorrow.