Love never feels quite real from afar, but once you’re face to face with it, it’s like nothing else matters. Ingrid Veninger’s Porcupine Lake brings us an honest tale of discovery of a young girl named Bea, who meets Kate during a family trip. While Bea and Kate form a connection and explore a loss of innocence together, Bea’s parents’ marriage, on the other hand, begins to slowly disintegrate.
The film, like its leads, is appropriately shy – its emotional resonance never quite expands beyond that core bond between the girls. Bea and Kate are as true as can be; both child actors, Charlotte Salisbury and Lucinda Hall, prove to carry the movie, and churn out more impressive acting chops than their adult counterparts. In every moment they share, they have a real understanding of holding character beats.
Porcupine Lake is a cleverly timid film that’s small and sweet. There’s nothing special to remember in the long run, but it still works as a solid exercise in young love. Porcupine Lake should play quite well with demographics both young and old, as there’s something in it that everyone can relate to – letting go is never easy.
Rating: 6/10
Public Screenings: Sept 10: 7:30 pm, Sept 14: 7:30 pm, Sept 15: 8:45 pm