The first scene of this movie is the best: A young teenager stares into the mirror after an inventive makeup job that makes it look like her lips have been sewn shut. This image cleverly reflects the themes of the film - silence, repressed feelings and the inability to express emotions following a tragedy.
One thing that is unique about Speak is that while most films about high school rape are about seniors, this is about freshmen, with the assault taking place in grade 8. Such things must happen, and even if it is less likely to happen at fourteen than in the later teen years it's still refreshing to see the subject addressed.
Most of the acting is TV quality, although the narration was well done. I never had the feeling of an entire school year passing, despite efforts to show the seasons changing and various holidays passing by. Aside from the opening scene, nothing particularly grabbed my attention. This is a fairly standard TV movie with good intentions. It could be an excellent film for any teen struggling to express their feelings about anything that's troubling them, whether it's rape or not.
One thing that is unique about Speak is that while most films about high school rape are about seniors, this is about freshmen, with the assault taking place in grade 8. Such things must happen, and even if it is less likely to happen at fourteen than in the later teen years it's still refreshing to see the subject addressed.
Most of the acting is TV quality, although the narration was well done. I never had the feeling of an entire school year passing, despite efforts to show the seasons changing and various holidays passing by. Aside from the opening scene, nothing particularly grabbed my attention. This is a fairly standard TV movie with good intentions. It could be an excellent film for any teen struggling to express their feelings about anything that's troubling them, whether it's rape or not.