The Innocents

I saw "The Innocents" at the GURL.com Film Festival (Nov. 17-21), where it screened as one of the closing night films.

I went to the festival to see Kimberly Pierce and her fascinating film about gender identity, "Boys Don't Cry," and ended up seeing almost all of the films, but "The Innocents" was one of the best.

A subtle story about that time in your life when having a best friend is the most important thing you can have. The story follows two girls, one, Valedictorian, the other, town tomboy, during the summer after high school graduation.

Both girls are troubled in their own way, but through taking a journey together to uncover a family secret, they help uncover each others secrets. The secrets that keep us all in the dark, that keep us from moving forward. That's exactly what this film is about, moving forward. After a somewhat slow start, the film takes off in an unusual journey with the girls facing the unknown, but this journey, like the film, quickly becomes a journey of self-discovery, and the girls face not the past, but the future.

It was wonderful to see such a beautiful, unbiased, unaffected movie from a first time writer/director and actress. I recommend this feature film highly to anyone who likes being moved by their movies.

The Innocents is a delightful film about two girls who seek to uncover a family secret but end up finding the meaning of life. The only thing I could compare it to would be a sort of low-budget Merchant-Ivory type of film. At its heart is a touching story that leads you on a journey of discovery and ends up in a very unexpected place. In a word, touching. I saw this film at the Temecula Valley International Film Festival and I hope to be able to see it again soon. Their aren't many films that truly move you to think about life, but as far as I'm concerned, this is one of them. I recommend this film strongly. Thank you.

If every great journey has a hero, then this film has two. With theaters scrambling to keep up the popcorn for Hollywood's light summer fare, the more meaningful stories must no doubt be found through the festivals. I found one such film which i am again writing about in my own way. This film is called "The Innocents." I recommend it if you are in the mood for something meaningful. The story centers on two girls who partake on an adventure which takes them even further then they imagined. It is a story about friendship, family, and the discovery of being true to oneself - something we all could use a little more of in our lives. I won't give away any of the plot as I want not to spoil it for anyone wanting to see this film. I will say only that it is a story well told (by one of it's stars, Katherine Griffin, also the writer/director), and though it trickles a bit slow to start, the end leaves you with an impression as large and unpredictable as the grand canyon. Okay so that may be saying a lot about any film, but this one making the festival circuit is truly not to be missed. I only hope it finds its way into the grand Hollywood fare that is the pipeline for most ticket buyers movie going experience. And by the way, it does go very well with popcorn.

I saw THE INNOCENTS last year at the Cross Roads Film Festival. Everyone in the room was blown away by the professionalism of the film. Much to my surprise, the film's director and costar, Katherine Griffin was seated beside me in this small venue. We all knew that she was one of these few people who you will most surely hear more from in the future.

"The Innocents" is not just a beautiful indie film, it is a beautiful film period. Indie films rarely match the visual quality that Hollywood can purchase. But what indie films lack in millions of dollars for production design they make up for in story, character and a passion for life. This is exactly how The Innocents gets under your skin and moves you the way most films only strive to do. I will not give away any of the plot here, but will only say what could have become cheap cliche in a story about two girls searching for the deeper meaning of life becomes anti-cliche (if there is such a thing) and remains an original, compelling story throughout it's hour and half running time. Kudos to the artists who brought this one to the screen. I heard some of their Q&A afterward and know what a journey they themselves undertook to bring it to life. ****