Mouse is a shy, withdrawn young woman who is being banished to boarding school against her will. In an effort to bring Mouse out of her shell, the headmistress assigns her to live with the most dynamic young women in the place: Pauline, the freewheeling embodiment of extroversion and Tory, the self aware beauty who thrives in Pauline's shadow. Mouse soon becomes party to a secret shared by the duo, that, if it were discovered, could destroy everything that they hold dear, especially one another.
"Lost and Delirious" has been tagged as a "lesbian film" : exactly what that is I'm not quite sure. What I do know is that this film is about love, passion and all that can go wrong when these emotions are inflamed and then denied. When lovers are forced apart, whether by parents, or society the pain of rejection is devastating. The fact that the main characters happen to be women makes it no less so, indeed you could argue it is worse, as few men would be so courageous and take such a risk with their emotions, regardless the nature of the relationship.
Piper Perabo, looking very different than she did as the ditzy cute girl in "Coyote Ugly" is given the opportunity to show that she can handle a dramatic role, and acquits herself well - I was quite impressed. Perabo's character is over the top throughout the film and refreshingly so - conventions don't exist for Polly who refuses to subvert her emotions, choosing instead to revel in them. Jessica Pare meanwhile is amply subdued as Tory, a young woman so terrified of flouting convention that she sacrifices a love that she knows she will never find again. I found it physically painful to watch as Pare slowly drives the wedge between her and Perabo's character. Mischa Barton is indispensable for it is through Mouse's eyes and ears that we are able to watch the story unfold without prejudices. As her character grows, so does the film. Finally, I enjoyed Graham Greene role and wish they had made more use of his character.
The script, although choppy in a few sections, flows well and kept my attention, something few films manage to do these days. It was also refreshing to hear a soundtrack that both meshed well with the action on screen and lacked any techno or rap music - not that I don't like them but they've been so overly utilized as of late that they've become stale. I also appreciated the simple cinematography, which managed to convey more through its subtlety than "serious" films with ten times the budget. My only qualm with the film is the ending, which, although I understand the why, I wish hadn't happened.
If a heart beats in your chest, you will appreciate this film
|
|
