Review of God Help the Girl (2014) by Kris S — 13 Jan 2015

God Help the Girl (2014 Film).

By Kris Scott.

God Help the Girl is a British Musical and Drama film directed by Stuart Murdoch.

The story follows Eve (Played by Emily Browning) who escapes from the psychiatric hospital where she is being treated for anorexia nervosa and makes her way to Glasgow, hoping to become a musician. At a gig, she meets James, a lifeguard and aspiring songwriter. He introduces her to his guitar student Cassie, and the three become friends.

The director whose name you may recognise is known in the music world for being the lead singer and songwriter for the indie pop band Belle & Sebastian. His knowledge of this industry helps create a sense of realism within the film of a band going from nothing to becoming more like something.

The cast to whom I don't really recognise are well selected and have perfect vocal talent from what I gather. As of theme it expresses ones self consciousness repairing itself. It also shows the creating and bonding of friendship with those who are interested in very similar hobbies.

The bond that's shown between the characters is real and when it's broken the loss is felt by those connected through a television screen. The setting that Murdoch uses shows he has done his research or he went through the same thing.

'I think I'll have to dance with Cassie cause the dream boy never lasts' catchy lyrics from an amazing but not perfect Scottish musical drama. What made it not perfect you ask, well, they could've had more bonding there is always more room for bonding between the main characters, the actor that played Anton. Personally I didn't think he was needed to be another conflict when she already had the personal ones and the conflict of becoming a musician.

I'd give this film a solid 4 stars, due to it's well envisioned story with beautiful, aesthetically pleasing sets (with interesting late 80s-90s style of fashion) and also a shout out to the ned on the river side- a staple of scottish films!