Dear reader,
in this movie from the
year 1994, a young man provides a woman, living alone in the woods,
with food, which he leaves for her in front of the cabin. But it
isn't quite that easy. He hears wailing and as he carefully enters
the cabin, he finds a woman, seemingly dead on the floor. Also there
are flowers on the body and around. As if someone prepared the woman
like this. Did the woman not live alone after all? The doctor of the
town, Jerome “Jerry” Lovell (Liam Neeson) is called by the
sheriff (Nick Searcy). They eventually find a young woman, by the
name of Nell (Jodie Foster), who they find out is the unbeknownst
daughter of the dead woman. Nell only speaks an unknown language of
her own.
For Jerry Nell is
fascinating. She grew up away from civilisation and yet she can
seemingly live and organise her life completely inependantly. Paula
Olsen (Natasha Richardson), a young psychologist student, sees more
the scientific of it all. She would like Nell at the hospical for
further investigation of her as well as her language. For the court
however the most pressing question is whether Nell can live
independantly or if she is depending on help and/or assistance.
Eventually it's decided
that Nell can, for the time being, stay where she is and Jerry and
Nell make themselves comfortable in the woods, too. At first they do
it independently from each other, but by interacting and
investigating Nell, they also get closer to each other.
It's getting obvious that
Nell will not live undiscovered and isolated forever. So it's time to
show Nell the civilisation, the town. An adventure for all people
involved. Then the media notices Nell indeed and so a decision what
to do next has to be made spontaneous and fast. Shortly after this
radical experience for Nell, the second hearing at the court is set,
which will decide how Nell is doing and how and where she'll live in
the future.
“Nell” isn't one of
the best movies. The end is, although certainly desirable, over all a
“Hollywood ending” and as cheesy as it is simply illogical an
ending. Seeing how Nell behaved up to the court hearing, but
especially how she reacted at the town visit and then the shock
experience when the media finds her, then I just can't describe her
behaviour at the court hearing with anything else but “illogical”.
The movie borrows cliches from the “wild, beautiful” life outside
of town, to the rather “movie-type” of psychologist up to the
Hollywood-happy-ending. Why then do I enjoy watching this movie
anyway and write it up here now? For one thing because I still do
find it enjoyable to spend some time with Nell in the woods and to
appreciate the images of the beautiful landscape and surroundings.
Also I like watching Natasha Richardson and Liam Neeson and how they
are so profoundly different at first and then get closer to one
another. Some said that Jodie Foster's performance was too much
acting and Nell seemed very forced. She seemed believable to me
though, save the impossible court hearing at the end.
One reason why I didn't
watch this movie over the last years, is the fact that Natasha
Richardson, who by the way later in real life married Liam Neeson,
had a skiing accident in March 2009. At first everything seemed ok,
but in the end she died from inner head injuries on March, 18th.
This is the only film I've got with her and I think this is also the
only with with her and her (although not yet at that time) husband.
The book to the movie is,
like almost always with books, a bit deeper with the background
information on the individual characters. It's a nice read, if you
like the movie. For the great images however, I'd still recommend the
movie rather than the book.
For those of you, who like
generally calm film scores, this soundtrack by Mark Isham might be
for you. I know I enjoy it at least. I don't listen to it much
anymore, because I don't think of it often, but I appreciate it every
time I do listen to it.
Until next blog,
sarah
