Pregnant by music? Rachel, a young Mormon girl, believes in immaculate conception, while her fundamentally religious family regards her condition as an intolerable transgression. The search for the child's origins is a revelation for the 15-year-old.
Starting off with delicate brushstrokes, the metaphors start getting heavy-handed by the time she runs away to Vegas, discovering the temptations of Sin City, Rory Culkin’s thrash-metal skater dude and some silly plot twists.
An interesting and catchy take on a traditional tale of repressed teenage rebellion.
A thoroughly unconvincing premise is executed in a thoroughly unconvincing way in this tepid indie film about rock’n’roll and religious repression.
Garner is suitably mesmerising as the otherworldly Rachel, but after such a strong set-up the story doesn't know where to go before it eventually settles into a predictable groove. Still, a bold feature debut that marks writer-director Rebecca Thomas out as a name to watch.
So deftly done it's three parts enchantment to one part irritation.
It loses its way before the end, but its interest never flags.
Director Rebecca Thomas has eccentricity and quirk to spare. Now to hone those storytelling skills…
Writer-director Rebecca Thomas invites us into this world with a gentle, unhectoring hand, and keeps the mystery of her story wide open.
Captivating, original.
Though the film contains strong individual elements, particularly Julia Garner's excellent performance that captures her character's mix of intelligence, optimism and naivety, Rachel's offbeat escapades never seem to entirely add up to something deeply profound and exploratory for either her or the viewer.
The writer-director is guilty of wrapping up too many plot strands in order to provide an upbeat ending, but she effectively contrasts the film’s rural and urban locations.
Profile--Rebecca Thomas, director of Electrick Children
Cameo, Edinburgh from Sunday July 8, 2012, until Wednesday August 1, 2012. More info: http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/
Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Friday July 27, 2012, until Thursday August 2, 2012. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/
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