Stroke victim Violet Kellty passes away in her isolated North Carolina cabin. Town doctor Jerry Lovell (Liam Neeson) and Sheriff Todd Peterson (Nick Searcy) find a young woman (Jodie Foster) living in the house speaking her own language. She is Violet's daughter Nell from a rape. Lovell asks Dr. Paula Olsen (Natasha Richardson) to help him decipher her language. Olsen is looking to commit her but Lovell opposes her asking for informed consent. The judge gives them 3 months to observe her before making any decision. However her language hides the fact that she had a twin once.
The movie navigates some interesting matters like Nell's sexuality but handles it without much depth. The movie ends with a Five Years Later scene. I think those five years hold something more interesting. It's also perplexing that Nell doesn't figure out some more English. The movie seems intent to keep her a virginal innocent to the end of the trial. The speech in court starts off well but quickly turns cheesy. There is a vein of cheesiness going on in this movie. Jodie Foster gives her all in this performance. It would be great if director Michael Apted dig deeper into the character.
The movie navigates some interesting matters like Nell's sexuality but handles it without much depth. The movie ends with a Five Years Later scene. I think those five years hold something more interesting. It's also perplexing that Nell doesn't figure out some more English. The movie seems intent to keep her a virginal innocent to the end of the trial. The speech in court starts off well but quickly turns cheesy. There is a vein of cheesiness going on in this movie. Jodie Foster gives her all in this performance. It would be great if director Michael Apted dig deeper into the character.