A week or two ago I heard, probably on NPR, an interview with the book author and someone involved with making this movie. From that I had the impression that it was an honest look at the experience of a teenage girl who lacks parental supervision and support and who turns to an older man who is molesting her because she thinks he loves her. As a Feminist and incest survivor I thought this might be a good movie.
When I saw it I felt that it is simply soft core kiddy porn with way too many sex scenes and very little about the damage that the neglect and sexual abuse is doing to the girl. I really like the actress and think she did a very good job with the material she was given. The situation with the adult man finally drives her to some self destructive behavior, but she stops suddenly, goes back to her neglectful mother, and quickly realizes that she loves herself, doesn't need outside validation. No therapy needed, no long term recovery.
Because I lived on the edges of hippy SF in the early 70's I saw a few situations like this and have seen the young women involved go through years of struggle to find themselves, over come drug addiction, and move on in life. They are left with permanent scars to their bodies and psyches. This movie doesn't show that. It is very focused on her "sexuality."
If you see this movie I'd like to hear what you think.
Barrie