Review of The Ocean of Helena Lee

I found this movie via my love of Maria McKee's music. That, the cinematography and the performance of the young female lead are the only reasons this gets any marks. Moriah Blonna is wonderful as the 12 year old protagonist, wandering around, thinking existential thoughts, as you do. McKee herself plays the ghost of the girl's mother, a device that palls after a while and reaches a truly excruciating denouement. I had to watch from between my fingers. The kid has one of those cute, quirky, movie relationships with her deadbeat dad (Tom Dunne) and an actually quite touching bond with her best friend. The best scenes are of the two kids together, running on Venice Beach or through the city at night. The movie looks beautiful, but is utterly pretentious in its lack of form or plot. Then suddenly it slaps you insultingly in the face at the end. The epilogue, another speech from the daughter, is cringe making. I'll content myself with the soundtrack album, which is great - the movie was a crushing disappointment.