burgessian1

This film restores one's faith in people. It's about some residents of Jersey during the German occupation in World War II. We see the film through the eyes of a local shopkeeper. She bravely takes in Russian prisoner of war who manages to escape from forced labour in a quarry. Times are tough with rationing. Slowly but surely she forms a relationship with the POW, teaches him how to read English and he becomes like a son to her. The story is sensitively told with excellent acting from the principals. Although I note that the actor playing the part of 'Brian' is not mentioned the cast list. Without giving anything away the tensions mount as time passes with an inevitable conclusion. This film portrays the bravery and selflessness of ordinary people in helping others and opposing occupiers. A deep film and a well worthwhile film to see. When I saw it at the Clevedon Curzon members of the audience clapped at the end of the film.

I saw this film today. I found that it tended to go on for too long. The gist of the plot is that it is about sexual awakening in a teenage girl - I think she is supposed to be 15 years old. Once initiated into sex she seems to be almost obsessed with it. Although having a deep affection for her first lover she still has casual sex with other guys and even tries out lesbian sex too. Or at least I think she does. There's lots of drug use too with her mother's crowd as well as other young people. The girl is also a cartoonist and tells her story in a cartoon style based on that of a female cartoonist. There is no sign of guilt on the part of the girl even though she is betraying her mother, until that is the relationship is unmasked. The ending is quite poignant in that she learns that something her stepfather taught her is useful and that she is not a clone of her mother.