While shes attracting attention on Starzs hit series Camelot, the public should also follow her to this low-key thriller.
She plays Miss G, a teacher at an out-of-the-way British boarding school for girls in the 1930s. Amid an otherwise old-maid faculty, her youth and beauty make her popular among the students. On the surface, shes an exuberant woman who lives for the moment and exudes a positive attitude thats infectious; thats a cover, however, for a tortured soul thats as enigmatic as her name.
I dont want to give away the twists and turns of this indie thriller, because it will hook you from the start with splendid photography and keep you entranced with a compelling story comprised of strong characters. I can say that Miss Gs pet student, Di (Juno Temple, Greenberg), isnt at all happy with her teachers sudden interest in the new arrival, Fiamma (Spanish actress María Valverde), reportedly a princess. That aristocratic nature puts Fiamma in the sights of Di and her Mean Girls-esque minions (among them, the unfortunately named Imogen Poots of 28 Weeks Later, here radiating like a young Kate Winslet), making her a target of their cruel behavior, and setting up one twisted variation on the love triangle.
Green is a knockout, both in the physical sense and in her performance, and the unknown-to-these-shores Valverde is near her equal. In everything Ive seen her in, Temple has always bothered me, but at least here, shes supposed to. (That said, I hope her casting in the next Batman movie doesnt ruin The Dark Knight Rises for me.)
If theres a star to single out, its the one behind the camera: Jordan Scott. The daughter of A-list director Ridley Scott (Gladiator), she proves that great filmmaking is in the genres. With a quiet score and precise angles that suggest careful planning in service of the story, she has crafted a feature her first, believe it or not full of indelible images, but also pulse-quickening tension. Rod Lott