Innocence

Lucile Hadzihalilovic's disturbing yet hypnotic drama takes place at a very strange all-girls boarding school in the middle of a dense forest (one girl actually arrives at the school in a casket, though no one seems to think there is anything odd about it). The young girls are put through a regimen of ballet lessons, botany classes, and fairly lengthy recess periods. The girls (aged 5-12) also wear little white skirts—a costume design not lost on cinematographer Benoît Debie, whose lush camerawork often seems a little too intensive for such juvenile subject matter. Indeed, Innocence is sure to leave viewers feeling uncomfortable, as the girls—although not blatantly abused—are nonetheless presented in jail bait-like poses that are clearly not accidental. Still, it's the questions that keep us involved in the story: Who are these girls? Why did their parents send them to this school? Who are the weird women in charge? Some viewers may recognize Marion Cotillard, star of the critically acclaimed Edith Piaf biopic La Vie en Rose, in a decidedly less-than-musical performance as one of the no-nonsense teachers. Innocence is clearly not for everyone, yet those willing to explore a provocative and off-kilter view of childhood may find this to be an intriguing surprise. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include interviews with the director and actress Zoé Auclair on the film's purpose and mission. Bottom line: a small but solid extras package for a disquieting but compelling film.] (P. Hall)