The low rays of the fall sunset reflect off the New England seashore waves, as the camera smoothly pans to the right in the opening scene.  Together with the beach, Foster’s character emerges in full contrasting figure due to the daylight’s reflection bouncing of the water.  Rynn stops and stares out over the water, as if she were looking for something, maybe an answer, or for help.  In either case, the scene provides some insight to Rynn’s character’s thoughtful persona and the ambiguousness atmosphere that later appears in the film.  Her solitary presence on the beach also gives a conceptual idea of her position in society, as she lives in a small leased without anyone caring for her.

Quickly after the opening credits the story jumps into the middle of the story, as Rynn celebrates her own thirteenth birthday on Halloween night.  If this does not evoke any kind of anticipation, the audience might not be aware of the American culture, or the neglectful abuse parents accomplish by neglecting a child’s birthday.  Nonetheless, Rynn goes about her business, as if she did not expect anything else.  The isolated seclusion and loneliness of Rynn immediately wins over the audience to her side, as the audience does not know what to expect form the story.  Consequently, someone is knocking on the door and it is Frank (Martin Sheen), a lone trick-or-treating adult.  The initial meeting between Rynn and Frank delivers a significantly tense moment, which intensifies when Frank snoops around in the cottage and asks about the father’s whereabouts.  It is clear that Frank knows something, but what we never find out.  However, his presence augments the audience’s favorable feelings toward Rynn, as her vulnerability increases with the pedophilic tendencies of Frank.

The story in itself focuses on the father, who obviously never emerges, as Rynn repeatedly lies about his location to all that ask.  Through clever camera use, the audience learns about secretively guarded secret that Rynn hides.  The secret seems to hide in the basement, as Rynn works hard on keeping the nosy people from her house, including Frank and the owner.  The secrecy within the film enhances the apprehension in regards to Rynn. It is obvious that something is wrong, and the initial positive mind-set toward Rynn begins to rumble.  The ambiguous nature of the story brings forth an intriguing notion in regards to human nature that humans often have more than the image that they attempt to portray to the people in the social setting.

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane is a highly atmospheric story much due to a combination between the cinematography, scene framing, score, and the performances by the cast, which all helps strengthen the secrecy and suspense within the film.  The director Nicholas Gessner’s delicate handling of taboo issues also increases the uncertainty that seems to linger in the air, as the audience never knows what will happen next.  It shows that Gessner has a brilliant eye on how to build up a solid thriller, however, after having seen the film it feels like there is something significant missing.  The film strongly flirts with the audience’s anticipation, but it never delivers anything to relieve the tense atmosphere.  Instead, the film only leaves the viewer with a highly teasing experience of what could have happened.  Yet, within the ambiguousness the story and the open-ended feeling leaves the audience with the idea of finishing the story for themselves. Gessner’s cinematic creation leaves the viewer with a clever depiction of something very captivating, which delivers both a terrific and awkward cinematic experience depending how the viewer approaches the film.

Jodie Foster’s performance is an excellent reason to why the viewer should experience this captivating thriller.  In addition, Gessner’s direction helps keep the story fascinating.  The combination between these, the direction, and the acting helps develop a unique cinematic experience that will linger for some time in the back of the mind.

DIRECTED BY

COUNTRY

Canada / France / USA

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