Star (Sasha Lane) meets the charismatic Jake (Shia LaBeouf) by chance, is immediately intrigued and joins his free-spirited band of magazine sellers. Andrea Arnold’s first film to be shot in the U.S. takes in all the sights of rural America in its epic portrait of wayward youth and poverty. As in her Fish Tank (2009), focus lies on a teenager (a very strong performance by an amateur) who follows her instincts even if they lead her astray; Star’s easily impressed, but compassionate. Clearly a labor of love from a truly committed filmmaker, but one’s interest in Star’s journey wavers over a very long running time.

2016-Britain-U.S. 163 min. Color. Written and directed by Andrea Arnold. Cinematography: Robbie Ryan. Cast: Sasha Lane (Star), Shia LaBeouf (Jake), Arielle Holmes (Pagan), Riley Keough, McCaul Lombardi, Crystal B. Ice… Will Patton.

Cannes: Jury Prize.

IMDb