Successful pop songwriter Mike (a sound and likeable performance by James Aubrey) meets and falls in love with underage hitchhiker Ginny (a fine and appealing portrayal by lovely brunette Alison Elliot). Complications ensue after Mike finds out that Ginny is only fourteen, but decides to continue being romantically involved with her.
Director Pete Walker, who's best known for his gruesome horror shockers, here makes a radical departure from his usual fright fare and does it very well by relating the daring and compelling story at a steady pace, maintaining a bittersweet tone throughout, grounding the premise in a believable workaday reality, and refusing to offer any simple pat answers for the tough questions the difficult subject matter brings up. Murray Smith's bold script does a commendable job of presenting the main characters as sympathetic, but flawed people who make bad choices that they must deal with the consequences of. Moreover, this film doesn't shy away from showing how societal pressure and a biased legal system only serve to compound the severity of an already thorny issue.
Aubrey and Elliot display a strong chemistry as the doomed couple, which in turn makes their forbidden romance that much more tragic and poignant. Moreover, there are rock-solid supporting contributions from Mark Burns as Ginny's disapproving dad Harry, Juliet Harmer as Ginny's more understanding mother Susan, Richard Todd as hard-nosed defense attorney Geoffrey Steele, Debbie Lindon as Ginny's saucy gal pal Carol, Andy Forray as Michael's easygoing partner Vince, and Chris Jagger as dashing singer Nick. Peter Jessop's pretty cinematography provides an attractive bright look. Catchy soft-rock soundtrack by Jigsaw, too. The downbeat ending packs a devastating punch. A praiseworthy and provocative film.
Director Pete Walker, who's best known for his gruesome horror shockers, here makes a radical departure from his usual fright fare and does it very well by relating the daring and compelling story at a steady pace, maintaining a bittersweet tone throughout, grounding the premise in a believable workaday reality, and refusing to offer any simple pat answers for the tough questions the difficult subject matter brings up. Murray Smith's bold script does a commendable job of presenting the main characters as sympathetic, but flawed people who make bad choices that they must deal with the consequences of. Moreover, this film doesn't shy away from showing how societal pressure and a biased legal system only serve to compound the severity of an already thorny issue.
Aubrey and Elliot display a strong chemistry as the doomed couple, which in turn makes their forbidden romance that much more tragic and poignant. Moreover, there are rock-solid supporting contributions from Mark Burns as Ginny's disapproving dad Harry, Juliet Harmer as Ginny's more understanding mother Susan, Richard Todd as hard-nosed defense attorney Geoffrey Steele, Debbie Lindon as Ginny's saucy gal pal Carol, Andy Forray as Michael's easygoing partner Vince, and Chris Jagger as dashing singer Nick. Peter Jessop's pretty cinematography provides an attractive bright look. Catchy soft-rock soundtrack by Jigsaw, too. The downbeat ending packs a devastating punch. A praiseworthy and provocative film.