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Mar 15, 2013 By Chris Tinkham Issue #44 - Best of 2012 - Grimes

Set in London, 1962, amid the specter of the Cuban Missile Crisis, this coming-of-age drama from writer-director Sally Potter (Orlando) otherwise begins wistfully enough, with friends Ginger (Elle Fanning) and Rosa (Alice Englert) indulging in teenage-girl behavior, cavorting about town together, rebelling against their mothers, smoking cigarettes, and laughing about kissing boys. Cinematographer Robbie Ryan captures all of it in fetching natural tones. Ginger’s father (Alessandro Nivola) is an admired writer and activist in bohemian circles, and she becomes drawn to anti-bomb protests as the threat of an apocalypse begins to weigh on her.

Ginger’s social awakening notwithstanding, Rosa is the more mysterious and worldly of the two. Seeing Ginger & Rosa on the festival circuit last year, there was a sense early in the film that the takeaway from it would be the arrival of Englert (Jane Campion’s daughter) on the international film scene, much like Eva Green with The Dreamers. But before long, Fanning begins to own the film, as her character weathers the betrayals and hypocrisies of those closest to her. Forget that Fanning, now 14, assumes an English accent for the part. Her portrayal of emotional confusion and bridled pain is remarkable to see unfold. (www.facebook.com/GingerAndRosa)

Author rating: 7/10