Director: Stuart Murdoch
Cast: Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, Hannah Murray
Certificate: 15
Run Time: 111 minutes
GOD HELP THE GIRL is a film directed by the head of band Belle and Sebastian, Stuart Murdoch. The film follows manic-depressive, anorexia-recovering Eve, played by Emily Browning. Eve wants to sing, and will do anything to make her dream come true, even if that means escaping the hospital where she is being cared for. After escaping Eve bunks with James, a romantic idealist who is worn-out by the music scene after being part of a band that fell apart. The two begin a rather coy and intense friendship/flirtation as they then go onto form a three-piece band with one of James’ students Cassie.
Scotland as a country hasn’t got the best of reputations on film. Previous films set in our sister-up-North include TRAINSPOTTING, which focussed on the seedy drug underbelly, FILTH which again focussed on drugs and crime, and Neil Marshall’s DOOMSDAY had the country walled-up and filled with cannibals. The quaint and picturesque side of Scotland finally gets an outing. Thanks to this less than stellar portrayal many won’t realise that Scotland has long been a musical mecca. Bands including The Smiths and, Blondie all journeyed across its shores to immerse themselves in the magic of the environment. Through the music’s narrative GOD HELP THE GIRL follows the three wayward souls who have all floated to the destination all with a passion for music, though at different points of the journey. James is jaded, Eve wants in, and Cassie is only just starting to get an interest.
The story has been told many times before though this time it gets the musical treatment. A musical all about youth and that wonderful endless summer. With the film Murdoch has managed to perfectly encapsulate the wonder and excitement of youth, as well as the trials and tribulations of the teen experience. Musically the film is perfect. Given the director’s background one would hope that this is the case and thankfully it is. Songs vary from bubblegum-pop to the angstiest of teen angst turbulence, with several memorable tunes that you’ll find yourself humming on the journey home.
Emily Browning is hypnotically mesmerising as Eve, the down-on-her-luck would-be songstress. There really is something about her that draws in both the audience and the characters around her into her spell. James is the perfect sparring partner for Eve, played by Olly Alexander. He is at once instantly smitten with Eve, but as most musicals and films of this ilk go, she is oblivious to his feelings. Alexander brings a lot of charm to the indie hipster and is almost certainly set for a future of breaking teenage girls hearts. The weak link of the trio is Cassie, played by Skins and Game of Thrones actress, Hannah Murray. Whilst she performs fine alongside the others there is something about her character that doesn’t quite gel. It might very well be the casting of Murray, who to one generation is known as a different Cassie; that causes a distraction and ultimately the disconnect. That combined with her disproportionate amount of screen time, when weighed against the others, leads to her character being little more than a teenage ‘Phoebe from Friends’.
Although a musical, a genre that usual only deals with the lighter side of life, GOD HELP THE GIRL doesn’t shirk away from actual issues. It manages to be a musical that deals with love, loss, friendship, and eating disorders.
GOD HELP THE GIRL is a kooky, off-kilter, folksy indie musical, jammed full of catchy melodies.
[usr=4] GOD HELP THE GIRL is available now on DVD. We loved it at THN, and you can pick it up by clicking here.
