Holly (2006)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Guy Moshe

Writers:

Guy Jacobson (writer)
Guy Moshe (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Out of thousands, he tried to save one.

Plot:

In Cambodia, Holly, a 12 year old Vietnamese girl, encounters Patrick, an American stolen artifacts dealer. The story follows their strong connection and her unrelenting efforts to escape her fate.

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

Ron Livingston	...	Patrick
Chris Penn	...	Freddie
Udo Kier	...	Klaus
Virginie Ledoyen	...	Marie
Thuy Nguyen	...	Holly
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sahajak Boonthanakit	...	Tommy
Srey Cham	...	Girl #3
Kosal Dang	...	Kiri
Mudha Dann	...	Police Officer
Kun Daravann	...	Police Lieutenant
Sethy Dy	...	Prak
Adi Ezroni	...	Emma
Hugh Kirk	...	Backpacker #1
Trungta Kositchimongkol	...	Ma
Lina	...	Girl #2
Teerawat Mulvilai	...	Ohn
Net Ngo	...	Cafe Owner
Tor Nhim	...	Boat Crew Member
David Ohm	...	Kid
Montakan Ransibrahmanakul	...	Mama San
Keo Ratha	...	Captain
Kem Sereyvuth	...	Gas Vendor
Keo Seriemony	...	Dacil
Chit Socheata	...	Girl 1
Tharinee Songkiatthana	...	Barbara
Pen Sopheap	...	Gang Leader
Hun Sophy	...	Thom
Hy Sorim	...	Doctor
Pornpatchaya Supannarat	...	Lan
Osnat Tamir	...	Sharon
Bun Tana	...	Broker #2
Sorn Tola	...	Girl #1
Chaiyaporn Torphorn	...	Vibal
Chhor Van	...	Broker #3
Sou Viseth	...	Broker #1
Kowit Wattanakul	...	Vietnamese Official

MPAA:

Rated R for disturbing sexual situations involving children, and for language.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA | France | Israel | Cambodia

Language:

English | Khmer | Vietnamese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Cambodia

Company:

Priority Films

Trivia:

Tom Sizemore was originally slated to play Freddie but after being arrested for failing several drug tests, he was dropped from the production and replaced by 'Chris Penn'.

Better as a documentary

I saw this recently and I must say, I was moved by the factual basis of the story. However, "Holly" as a movie did not quite work. I am however, looking forward to watching the documentary which the producers who organised this project had made because I think that would be a much more compelling work than this film.

The international cast was composed of B-class actors but their acting was appropriate, and I must give a special mention for the young actress who played Holly. This was her first movie role and she did a very nice job, considering hers is the most challenging part.

Ron Livingston was adequate but bland as Patrick, the American whose quest is to "save" Holly, but Chris Penn was good in this, his final role. Unfortunately, despite my mostly favourable opinion of Virginie Ledoyen and Udo Kier, both of these actors were very much forgettable and did not do their best work in this film.

I believe in the film's message and intention, but I have to be fair, so I rate "Holly" 3 stars based on its shortcomings as a movie. But I think the subject matter deserves serious consideration and I am pleased that the people behind this movie have made a documentary as well which I hope will have its debut on BBC and other TV networks.