MIFF update 2: Emily Dinsmore!

[bop_radar]

I found a Smallville connection at the Melbourne International Film Festival! *is ridiculously proud of herself* And I have a new actress to fangirl!

Her name's Jodelle Ferland, and she's only 11 years old. She played Emily Dinsmore (S2's Accelerate: Lana's childhood friend, cloned by LuthorCorp), and she stars in Terry Gilliam's movie Tideland, which is based on a novel by Mitch Cullin. I haven't read the book but the movie was seriously warped. I wouldn't recommend it for the sensitive or the squeamish (there's some pretty confronting content), but Jodelle's performance is out of this world... kinda literally!

Jodelle plays Jeliza-Rose. The basic plot is that after her mother dies from a heroin overdose, she and her father return to the rural farmhouse where he grew up. Jeliza-Rose attempts to deal with her bizarre life by play-acting with her 'friends' (bodiless Barbie doll heads) and eventually with Dickens, a disturbed soul who lives next door, browbeaten by his even-more-disturbed sister. The cinematography is gorgeous and the score's fantastic. Gilliam explores the fluid connection between reality and imagination in a typically whimsical manner, blending the fantastic and the grotesque. It's definitely not a movie for everyone. You can check out more images from production here.

Jodelle is high on my 'watch' list now. Her impressively longIMDB bio tells me that she's a Johnny Depp fan (of course!) and provided me with this gem of a quote: "They like to cast me for scary roles. I think it's because they want you to be scared, but also want you to like the little girl." Honey, you got it in one!

Oh, and she's also been on Supernatural. Not that I care. ;-p *pokes tongue at half her f'list*

Comments

[miss-tress.livejournal.com]

When I was dragged to 'Silent Hill' by a friend I was very excited to point out "the creepy, little girl from 'Smallville'" to my friends. It's odd that she be as cute as a button and scary as all get out at the same time.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

*nods* Yes--she's the perfect genre child star! She has the most delightful giggle (in Tideland, at least) so that I found myself with a big grin on my face throughout much of what was essentially crippling child abuse.

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that film sounds excellent.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

It was. Although I say that hesitantly only because it's pretty way out there... I liked it a lot though--it's a very memorable piece of cinema and bound to be a cult hit.

[laurab1.livejournal.com]

She's very good at doing creepy little girls. I also saw her in "Kingdom Hospital".

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

*nods* She's excellent at the creepy! I love creepy little girls... and if I was making/casting a movie, she'd play that role for sure.

[bland.livejournal.com]

I have a friend who lived in Nanaimo who used to babysit both Jodelle and her sister way back when. Jodelle was apparently really bratty, but what kid isn't at a certain age I guess? Anyways.. celebrity connection! ;)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh, interesting!

but what kid isn't at a certain age I guess?
Well, yes, that and what celebrity isn't?! I would be astonished if she was normal/well-adjusted/un-bratty really. She started acting at four, and she must be constantly surrounded by adults. And my mind reels at the type of direction she must have received for this movie alone 'Now, Jodelle, just climb on the body of your dead father and snuggle up to him while holding a monologue in three voices ...'

[bloodygoodgirl.livejournal.com]

Yay for fandom connections. It's always good to recognize our obsessions. The movie sounds interesting, screwed up but interesting.

*sticks tongue out*

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Indeed! *g*

[mailerose.livejournal.com]

Oh, I saw her being interviewed on a talk show. Seems like a nice girl... very happy and peppy.

And I don't even remember what happened in Accelerate. I should watch it again.