Review of The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976) by Lesly J — 23 Jun 2010

Jodie Foster, at age 14, portrayed a real-world adult in her best performance in a film. It is awe inspiring seeing a child actress act in such a beautiful and professional way. I started with the acting because with a film that offers numerous memories, the acting of Jodie Foster is something I will never forget.

I suggest the few people reading my review to refrain from reading the plotline. I skimmed the plot, and whether I'm a dyslexic or I have a mental disorder, I missed a key part in the plot that I believe made the film much better and mysterious. Below is the plotline the filmmakers wanted to give the viewers before going into The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Road, but I have taken two words out. I suggest you refrain from finding out anything else; it's unnecessary.

~A 13-year-old resorts to murder to protect herself.~.

The main character Ryann, despite what pre-made stereotypes you may have about teenage girls, is not only the most interesting teenage girl I have ever seen (fiction and non-fiction), but also one of the most interesting characters in a film I have seen. This may be due to my uninteresting life, but that's the honest truth. She's intelligent, witty, devious, independent, dark; but that changes until she lets the viewer enter her life, and that is when I felt like I truly knew her. She isn't a one-dimensional character, and her actions are worthy of discussion.

Even though I have raved about the characters and acting, that is not enough to warrant a viewing for most people. It may be a simple and short film, but The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Road is also unique in a small way. I doesn't achieve anything out of the ordinary, but it's something you never imagined seeing on-screen. It's a little hard to explain, but once you (hopefully) give it a chance, you'll know exactly what I was saying. It's the simplicity that gives it that masterpiece status because the character development, emotion and wonder packed into this one short film will make the viewer feel tricked, and mesmerized, in the greatest way possible.