Indie Gems: Ginger & Rosa

Betrayal.

 

Ginger (Elle Fanning) and Rosa (Alice Englert) are inseparable best friends growing up in 1960's London. Ginger's parents think Rosa is a bad influence, naturally Ginger doesn't care. Soon, Rosa will do something that will fracture the strong bond these girls have. It doesn't help that's there's the looming threat of a nuclear holocaust, something Ginger especially fears.

 

This was a slow moving, but interesting little film. I was a bit distracted by Elle Fanning and Christina Hendricks' accents occasionally, but it didn't hurt their performances. Actually, I think Elle Fanning gives the best performance of her career. It's easy to be on Ginger's side in this. Her mother is too afraid to stand up for herself and her father is atrocious, to put it lightly.

 

Ginger wants to be a poet, so there are many scenes of Ginger narrating as she writes in her journal. I felt those scenes were the strongest. They really captured the feel of what I imagine 1960's London would've felt like for these two girls, who are frequently confused by their emotions. The scenery was always grey and chilly looking. It fit the mood.

 

Grade: B-

 

Memorable Quote: "I can't say it..." - Ginger (Elle Fanning)