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Topic: Lou
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Stu Jamieson
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 524
From: Buccan, Qld, Australia
Registered: Jan 2008
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posted 06-19-2010 07:52 PM
Faced with having all her belongings repossessed by door-knocking creditors, 27 year old single mother of 3, Rhia (Emily Barclay), takes in her father-in-law, Doyle (John Hurt), in order to procure his carer's allowance. Suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, Doyle relives his past through the present, recognising his deceased wife in Rhia's eldest daughter, 11 year old Lou (Lily Bell-Tindley), a typically precocious pre-teen starting to find her independence as a young woman. Familial relationships take a new turn in complexity, however, when Doyle begins to court his own prepubescent granddaughter.
In this age of heightened awareness towards paedophilia, Doyle's attitude and actions towards Lou are more than a little bit creepy. During the course of the film, it's easy to believe that Lou will be yet another one of those depressing, wrist-slitting Aussie indie flicks illustrating the "real life" dark underbelly of Australian society. But it is testament to the deft handling of writer/director, Belinda Chayko, and a delicate performance by Hurt that the film steers steadily along the razors edge of decency.
Newcomer Lily Bell-Tindley (a native of the Northern Rivers region in NSW where the film is shot) exudes ample spunk sizing up to such a seasoned actor as John Hurt; a task big enough to intimidate any young performer. Indeed it probably works in the 11 year old's favour that she is too young to realise the thespian enormity of the great actor. The ever reliable Emily Barclay delivers yet again with Rhia, convincing as the single mother whose lack of emotional maturity reflects a misplaced adolescent life resulting from teenage motherhood.
Lou is a sleight but endearing film about complex familial relationships underpinned by a series of fantastic performances and flawless direction. A must see.
8 out of 10.
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