Critic A.O. Scott called La Niña santa "a miracle" in his NY Times review, comparing director Martel's style to the French New Wave filmmakers, but this comment is as widely off the mark as Martel's muddled narrative.
From the beginning, Martel fails to adequately characterize her lead actress, a confused teenage girl in the throes of a frustrated sexual awakening.
Martel's attempt to outline her protagonist's life in her mother's family-run hotel, leading to her unfortunate encounter with a medical doctor attending a conference there, suffers from numerous pointless digressions. Situations and subplots mostly lead nowhere as Martel appears to be discovering her narrative as she directs it.
Despite an engagingly offhand visual style, Martel's storytelling lacks the impact to fully invest the audience in the characters' lives and struggles. As the bland antagonist, the doctor remains mostly a cypher, communicating little and revealing less.
The inconclusive conclusion, which will undoubtedly frustrate some viewers, seems oddly appropriate for a film uncertain about what point it's trying to make.
Save yourself a trip to the theater -- this is strictly video rental material.
From the beginning, Martel fails to adequately characterize her lead actress, a confused teenage girl in the throes of a frustrated sexual awakening.
Martel's attempt to outline her protagonist's life in her mother's family-run hotel, leading to her unfortunate encounter with a medical doctor attending a conference there, suffers from numerous pointless digressions. Situations and subplots mostly lead nowhere as Martel appears to be discovering her narrative as she directs it.
Despite an engagingly offhand visual style, Martel's storytelling lacks the impact to fully invest the audience in the characters' lives and struggles. As the bland antagonist, the doctor remains mostly a cypher, communicating little and revealing less.
The inconclusive conclusion, which will undoubtedly frustrate some viewers, seems oddly appropriate for a film uncertain about what point it's trying to make.
Save yourself a trip to the theater -- this is strictly video rental material.