OK-this indie can be contrived and melodramatic at times, but it also can be poignant and moving I decided to accept the schmaltz and just go along with the story.
Willa Holland, as Davey, gives a wonderful performance here, as a teen trying to cope with the sudden death of her father(we don't learn till near the end of the film how he died) to whom she was very emotionally attached. With Davey's mother Gwen (Amy Jo Johnson) traumatized by the loss, as well, Gwen elects to accept her sister Bitsy's, very believably portrayed by Cynthia Stevenson, invitation to temporarily stay with them in Los Alamos, New Mexico. So Davey, her younger brother Jason and her mother travel from Atlantic City, New Jersey, to New Mexico for the respite.
Davey, still trying to deal with her grief, must now try and contend with her over controlling Aunt Bitsy, who seemingly attempts to act as her and her brother's mother, while Gwen is immobilized with depression and pills. Also, Davey must try and deal with her pompous and abusive Uncle Walter, as well as fit into a new high school. At the school she makes some new friends such as Jane (Elise Eberle), who has a drinking problem.
Most importantly though, Davey meets Martin, ably played by Tatanka Means, who's of Native American heritage. He asks her to call him Wolf and he gives her the name Tiger for her "sad eyes". They become sort of soulmates, with Martin teaching her rock climbing and together they explore old Tewa caves in the rocks ( the cinematography of the New Mexico landscape is quite gorgeous).
All in all, if you can put aside the contrivances, this can be a touching indie film, led by strong performances all around.
It was directed by Lawrence Blume, and he also co-wrote the script with his mother Judy Blume, based on her novel of the same name.
Willa Holland, as Davey, gives a wonderful performance here, as a teen trying to cope with the sudden death of her father(we don't learn till near the end of the film how he died) to whom she was very emotionally attached. With Davey's mother Gwen (Amy Jo Johnson) traumatized by the loss, as well, Gwen elects to accept her sister Bitsy's, very believably portrayed by Cynthia Stevenson, invitation to temporarily stay with them in Los Alamos, New Mexico. So Davey, her younger brother Jason and her mother travel from Atlantic City, New Jersey, to New Mexico for the respite.
Davey, still trying to deal with her grief, must now try and contend with her over controlling Aunt Bitsy, who seemingly attempts to act as her and her brother's mother, while Gwen is immobilized with depression and pills. Also, Davey must try and deal with her pompous and abusive Uncle Walter, as well as fit into a new high school. At the school she makes some new friends such as Jane (Elise Eberle), who has a drinking problem.
Most importantly though, Davey meets Martin, ably played by Tatanka Means, who's of Native American heritage. He asks her to call him Wolf and he gives her the name Tiger for her "sad eyes". They become sort of soulmates, with Martin teaching her rock climbing and together they explore old Tewa caves in the rocks ( the cinematography of the New Mexico landscape is quite gorgeous).
All in all, if you can put aside the contrivances, this can be a touching indie film, led by strong performances all around.
It was directed by Lawrence Blume, and he also co-wrote the script with his mother Judy Blume, based on her novel of the same name.