Move over, Parker Posey, there's a new It Girl on the Independent Film scene, and her name is BRITT MARLING.
Considering where she got her start -- as a Econ major at Georgetown (a major near and dear to foreignfilmguy's heart) -- the lovely Ms. Marling has captured the attention of the parka-wearing set at Park City in a remarkably short time, with TWO films to her credit premiering in the same year: 2011's sci-fi "Another Earth" was well-received and nominated for two Independent Spirit awards (Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay).
The second film she both starred in and penned, "Sound of My Voice" (in wider release in 2012) is sure to garner the same accolades (Well, not exactly the same, since she's already written her first screenplay). But there is no doubt she is destined for stardom, propelling the film as the mesmerizing leader of a bizarre cult whose motivations are never fully explained. As you can see from the pictures, her movie star good looks go a long way to sell the notion of this mysterious stranger leading a group of devout followers from a basement in southern California.
The screenplay, sadly, takes a nose-dive after setting-up a compelling story about a couple (the very good Christopher Denham and Nicole Vicius) who infiltrate the cult in an effort to expose it. Another indie, last year's "Martha Marcy May Marlene" is both more nuanced and effective at depicting a cult's simultaneous allure and danger. But much like Darren Aronofsky's first effort, Pi, the brilliance is in the set-up -- outweighing the drawbacks of a hasty, poorly thought-out conclusion, and offering the promise of better things to come.
