DVD Molly Maxwell
Run time: 90 min
Rating: 6.2
Genres: Drama
Director: Sara St. Onge
Writers: Sara St. Onge
Stars: Lola Tash, Charlie Carrick, Krista Bridges
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Storyline At Phoenix Progressive School, where everyone tries to outdo each other with creative self-expression, 16-year-old Molly Maxwell (Lola Tash) would rather be invisible than risk revealing herself as completely ordinary. When her young, handsome, disillusioned English teacher (Charlie Carrick) enters the picture and allows her to just be herself, Molly is suddenly able to flourish. As their student-teacher bond becomes more intimate, she begins putting herself on the line in unexpected ways while pursuing what she wants. But with each awkward, beautiful step towards an impossible romance, Molly risks alienating everyone she loves. Written by Molly Maxwell |
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Plot Keywords: teacher, family relationships, teacher student relationship, secret, student | |
Details: Country: Canada Release Date: 6 January 2013 (USA) |
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DVD Molly Maxwell
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4 comments
Wow, what a fearless and honest film! By bringing this semi-autobiographical story to the screen, director Sara St. Onge has brought nuance and complexity to a topic that is often reduced to absurd oversimplification. This film resonates with authenticity and personal truths. And the actors are equally impressive: Lola Tash and Charlie Carrick are completely convincing in the lead roles. "Molly Maxwell" isn't just an entertaining film; it's also an important film and a great work of art.
I look forward to seeing the director's next project. "Molly Maxwell" is certainly an excellent debut!
As you could probably tell based off the films and shows I watch, I have quite a fondness for media about people on the cusp of adulthood. The issues of figuring yourself out, trying to find and understand love, all the while navigating through the ton of responsibilities expected of you. And in many ways, Molly Maxwell has all these issues and gives a slightly alternative way of going about things. For while the movie mostly takes place in a high school for the eccentrics, and has an almost TV pilot appeal, at its heart it is about a young girl trying to discover her passion and explore it with someone.
Characters & Story
Molly Maxwell (Lola Tash) is of the many students going to Phoenix Progressive School which seemingly is an alternative school, or simply art school, which seems like the ideal place for any high school eccentric to go. There are no desk, just chairs and couches; the principal seems a bit off his rocker; classes include art therapy, in which you create something and burn it; and you can even make an independent study course. But, with all these options Molly seems a bit lost in the possibilities. That is until she fully sets her sights on English teacher Ben Carter (Charlie Carrick), someone she plan to do an independent study with/ on.
Thus beginning a movie in which Molly seems to abandon her friends for the sake of being under her teacher and discovering the mysteries of being with an older guy. One with his own place, who is creative, and seemingly doesn't see her as a child. All the while, he tries to walk the tight rope and allow his mentee to become close, but then she finds a place to wiggle into his heart which leads to the pin being pulled on their hand grenade relationship.
Praise
At the beginning of the movie, I felt like this was some MTV, or even a lighter ABC Family, type show featuring a bunch of unknowns as they navigate through life. You have Molly who seemingly is the only one in her family who hasn't found her niche yet; her odd friends, one being Caitlin (Brooke Palsson), who sort of reminded me of Elizabeth Gilles in Victorious; and Gala (A.K. Shand) who reminded me of Naomi in Skins, post coming out; and with them and the adult cast members you get this really appealing ensemble you can picture spending a few seasons with.
Alas, this is but a movie, but as you watch you really do come to find yourself really wanting to see the adventure continue. And while I wasn't the most fond of the whole teen girl and teacher storyline, in the end it didn't make this a bad film. Though I wish an alternative story was chosen.
Criticism
For, after watching Pretty Little Liars and witnessing the Aria and Fitz relationship, I am pretty much done with seeing a teen and teacher relationship. Especially because the film doesn't add any new type of spin to the old trope, nor try to make it past it being lustful. And honestly, when the story was obviously going into that direction, it killed a lot of my enthusiasm for it took away my interest in the movie for, well basically it stunts Molly as a character. No longer is she this sort of lost girl trying to find herself amongst this sea of eccentrics. This guy introduces her to photography and in an effort to get more time with him, and keep from being kicked out of school, she gets an independent study. And to me, considering how overbearing her mom seemingly is, and how her dad is available, though often on the phone, it would have been nice if they did anything, anything, besides create an unsustainable romance. But, even with that said, it isn't as horrible as it could have been, though I feel the ending to their relationship was a bit rushed and could have been handled better.
Overall: TV Viewing
When I first started watching this, I felt like this would be a movie to label Worth Seeing, but I must admit that teacher and student relationship really tainted the story for me. Be it because I would like to see a young adult movie in which the complications of love isn't the focus, or just because the aspect of watching a weakly crafted romance between a child and adult just doesn't appeal to me, I cannot say for sure. Either way, I will definitely say this movie is enjoyable, but cannot say it is worth rushing to go find. It starts off with immense potential, but the teacher-student storyline creates a story which lacks passion between the lovers, anything new to bring to the forbidden love affair stories you have surely seen before, and if it wasn't for the writer/ director being a woman, I'd argue the story was created to be used for vicarious living. Which admittedly is odd to say since Molly and Ben don't really do much more than make out.
A great Indie film that tells a very real story in a touching and unique way. This film deals with student/teacher relationships and everything about growing up and falling in love. Molly Maxwell is just your average precocious teenage girl… sort of. Her world opens up when she becomes just a little too close to a favorite new teacher at the alternative high school that she attends. In order to complete her requirements at school, Molly is forced to pick an extra-curricular elective, she chooses photography and arranges for her adviser to be the young and attractive English teacher. An innocent relationship quickly becomes an uncomfortable and forbidden romance. Actors, Lola Tash and Charlie Carrick, give excellent performances, showing a real chemistry on the screen. Dealing with growing pains of young love, forbidden fruit and awkward side of parenting, Molly takes us on a sexy, loopy, sometimes awkward and often amusing, ride.
The other good little Canadian movie. I am really tired of every other movie having to be a Lolita story, but this one is told quite well, and almost avoids becoming creepy, and wrong. There is a point very early in this movie that you see the who, and you see the what, it is just such a shame that a movie starting out in such a unique way had to just go that route. I was really impressed with the development of Molly, and in a few short months Lola Tash playing Molly truly shows a lot of growth, and demonstrates a real understanding for the character that she is playing. The relationship though wrong, is easily believable, and all of the acting in this movie really is strong. There was nothing other than the creepy scenes that no person of responsibility for another in this day and age should ever let themselves end up in that I did not Enjoy, and I really do recommend this movie all day. My only warning is that parents really might want to decide when this movie is OK for kids to see as there are strong views about sex that should not be up to the movies to teach them. Otherwise for anyone past the point of saving then this movie is a really good, well acted piece that resolves nicely, and does not feel the need to punish everyone.