Tali Shalom-Ezer’s directorial debut, “Princess,” a feral fairytale of a girl at the brink of puberty, works from an easygoing accumulation of details more than shaped drama, which turns out to be a strength. Perhaps its best element is Shira Haas, the actress who plays twelve-year-old Adar, conveying confounding but stubborn emotions with ease. In an atmosphere that already simmers with the tactile and erotic, Adar meets Alan (Adar Zohar-Hanetz), a slightly older boy, homeless, who is almost her double. Adventures ensue in drowsy, warm weather, until boundaries are broached. (Shalom-Ezer has invoked Bergman as an influence on how the betrayal is shown.) A major part of the tantalizing, offhand mood of the movie is the cinematography by Radek Ladczuk (“The Babadook”). With Keren Mor, Ori Pfeffer, Adar Zohar-Hanetz. 92m. (Ray Pride)
“Princess” opens Friday, June 17 at Facets. The international trailer is below.
Ray Pride is Newcity’s Senior Editor and Film Critic. He is a contributing editor of Filmmaker magazine.
Ray’s history of Chicago Ghost Signs is planned for publication next year. Previews of the project are on Twitter and on Instagram. More photography on Instagram.
Talking Screens, August 19-25, 2022: The Joys of Girl Picture | The Importance of Alma's Rainbow | The Power of Prey In Chicago: Ayoka Chenzira's 1994 coming-of-age comedy-drama "Alma's Rainbow; the Finnish "Girl Picture;" one more chance to see Wong Kar-wai's "In The Mood For Love;" "Parting Glances" set during the early stages of the AIDS crisis with Steve Buscemi in an early lead; "Marie Antoinette;" "City Of God;" and Chicago Film Society brings back the rarely seen "Livin' Large." Reeling…
