“Let go and move on” is one of those slogans that is easier said than done. Admit it, you have at least one problem in your life that you still haven’t solved. This could be in the form of anger, resentment, fear, envy, or any of those destructive emotions that prevent you from becoming a mature person. We sometimes unknowingly solve problems on our own by creating a vicious pattern of harmful habits. The antihero, Alice from the movie, the girl in the book She’s one of those people who’s stuck in her past, and when the same person who caused her trouble comes back into her life, she had no choice but to face her fears.
Alice in a not so wonderful country
We’re greeted by the opening scene of Alice in bed, who we assume was just a casual connection after she dresses, leaves the room, and leaves for work (without her underwear) without so much as a hug or kiss. Romantic. Later, we find out that he is just one in a series of one-night stands. Working for a publisher, he was specially assigned to manage publicity for a best-selling novel, ‘Waking Eyes’, which was published 14 years ago and is now being turned into an e-book. She is hesitant to accept this, but her boss insists that she is the perfect person for the job since her father is the author’s agent, Milan Daneker.
In a flashback, we are introduced to 15-year-old Alice, who is introduced to the author by her father during a party at their house. Her parents are writers’ agents, so she also has a penchant for writing.
But even with a privileged upbringing, her parents’ preoccupation with work and constant bickering ignore her. This is where Milan notices Alice and takes her under her wing by advising her on her deed. She wins over the insecure teen’s affection. When her relationship goes beyond the mentor-mentee, Alice is confused by her but allows him to corrupt her.
a story of betrayal
And so we take a look at lolita here. But more than the case of taking advantage of the naivety and loneliness of a young woman, this is a story of betrayal. There is more to Milan’s purpose of simply ‘tutoring’ Alice over writing and pleasure, and this is what hurt her the most. It is this pain that catapulted her into emotional and professional paralysis. Her desire to become a writer never materializes and her womanizing ways cause her to lose her best friend, Sadie, and the trust of her new lover, Emmett.
Light at the end of the tunnel
When all seemed lost and broken, Alice did what she had to do. She faces her biggest fears and tries to win back Sadie and Emmett’s affections. She stands up to Milan, stands up to her father (little by little), and catches up with her writing. Even as this is a story of betrayal, it’s also a story of redemption and resolutions. What Alice did to get Emmett back in her arms is touching.
Emily VanCamp captured the essence of the troubled Alice, but was able to enhance her facial expressions, instead of just showing her bewildered and confused look most of the time. With a fresh face and a sweet and sensual combination, Ana Mulvoy-Ten as 15-year-old Alice played her role well. But the cast that stood out the most here is Michael Nyqvist’s guilty Milan Daneker. He didn’t even have to say anything: his eyes conveyed the emotions he was feeling, from being sympathetic and helpful to Alice to being lecherous and jealous of Alice’s youth. The supporting cast also did well enough to make this movie at least long lasting. The movie is predictable, but it will make you want to sit down and watch it through to the end. So, did Alice solve her problems? That’s for you to find out.