UK | Denmark | Canada | Croatia 2012
Starts April 11
Directed by: Sally Potter
Writing credits: Sally Potter
Cast: Elle Fanning, Alice Englert, Annette Bening
Length: 90 min.
This drama explores the concept of freedom and friendship in a society threatened by a possibly nuclear cold war. Ginger (Fanning) and Rosa (Englert) are teenagers and best friends in the 1960s. In the beginning they are still playing truant, but soon their attention shifts to clothes, boys and the threat of nuclear war. Both girls admire Ginger’s father, Roland (Nivola), who spent some time in jail having been a conscientious objector in WW II. While Ginger draws on his relentless proclamation of personal freedom, Rosa is drawn to Roland’s wounded soul.
Trying to grasp their existence with new concepts like minimalism, existentialism and free love, the characters are making an effort to leave social concepts behind that seem to belong to an era pre WW II. It is in such a world that Rosa’s attraction to Roland becomes more than admiration and Ginger becomes an avid activist protesting against nuclear armament. But soon it becomes clear that Ginger’s motto that “nothing in the world is secure” is a metaphor not only for the war, but also for all the problems that “freedom” was supposed to solve.
Both, Elle Fanning and Alice Englert played well in this movie. Yet, I had the feeling that there were too many metaphorical allusions involved leaving me a bit confused. On the other hand, this confusion represents the characters’ state of mind well, so I am giving it ***. ()