The Girl

Director: David Riker
Cast: Abbie Cornish, Will Patton, Geoffrey Rivas, Austin West
Genre: Drama 2012
Running time: 95 mins.
Rating:★★★★

Ashley (Abbie Cornish), a single mother trying to hold her life together after losing custody of her son. Desperate for cash, Ashley attempts to smuggle a Mexican family across the border. But when the crossing ends in tragedy, Ashley is stranded with a girl desperate to find her family. The harrowing and ultimately hopeful journey that ensues takes us deep into the heart of Mexico, and of a woman trying to make amends for her troubled past.

Whoo...this woman has a lot of pent up anger and trust issues! Abbie Cornish brings the spirit of the her character's troubled upbringing and passion through her eyes and performance. The feeling of feeling trapped and desiring to make a better life for her character and the son is heartbreaking. To imagine the law taking away someone's child because of economic circumstances and some choices is usually understandable because its in the child's best interest. However, when you are forced to see the struggle from the parent's point of view, especially with such a strong performance from Cornish, you empathize her character's helplessness and her endurance. Now, would I agree to help smuggle immigrants into the country, just from "What other choice do I have?" or  "How could it get any worse?" attitude, probably not. As the audience is allowed to walk in this woman's shoes, then one probably would. Relatable on some level, nothing went as plan and the woman is in turmoil and stuck with a child, Rosa, who desperately wants her mother. What becomes perfectly clear that her greatest opponent and ally to help her deal and overcome her issues toward salvation and rebirth, is this little girl.

The cinematography is very well thought out and beautifully executed. For instance, the scene when Ashley and her hick uneducated of a father drive down to Mexico and the audience is allowed to view the celebrating from the truck's window and side mirror. Another beautifully rendered scene is the moment Ashley finds out that Rosa's mother drowned during the crossing. You see hallway of the library pushing away as if to reveal the rush of fear bombard through her chest and almost knocking the wind out of her. Muted and washed out earth tones in the first half of the film, cleverly illustrates the woman's overall look on life. The film transitions into more illustrious and bold tones as the bond between Rosa and Ashley grow stronger, along with Ashley's outlook becomes filled with purpose, compassion, and optimism.