The Magic Within

Going to a new school isn't easy for most twelve-year-olds, but for Jessica, it's even harder than usual: she lost both her parents in a car accident and has had to move in with her aunt. The first day of school, she accidentally manages to make an enemy of the ultra-tough punker Dawn and her little minions. However, a rather ethereal boy named Peter introduces her to his wise old grandma's garden, which becomes a growing place where the surly Jessica's cold and battered heart can find--drum roll, please--the magic within. Sound confusing and melodramatic? It is; this short film is full of cheesy one-liners, stilted acting, awkward edits, and far too many extreme close-ups and slow-mo shots. The symbolism is heavy-handed, and the shameless emotionalism even more so. Not recommended. Aud: I, J, P. (E. Gieschen)