I went it to see Elgin James' Little Birds by accident. The film I was in line for sold out before I got a ticket, and the only other options was this coming of age tale about two adolescent females who want anything other than the life they have been dealt. Little do they know, big city life comes complete with decisions and consequences, neither of which they are ready for.
Starring the phenomenal talent of newcomer Juno Temple (who was also on hand in Kaboom, another Sundance selection), Little Birds courageously emanates a mixture of harsh reality and innocent lust. It an a unique and explosive pairing, setting the stage for a true coming-of-age story that bears as much heart as it does truth.
Leslie Mann and Kate Bosworth are hardly used throughout the 94 minutes feature, present more for name value than anything else. That being said, the film is really all about Temple and co-star Kay Panabaker. Together they ignite the screen as best friends from small town near the Salton Sea. Together, they get the chance to live a little when they meet guys from Los Angeles. On a whim, they run away to live the life they've always wanted, only to realize that their dreams were just that, an unrealistic portrait of the perfect life.
The acting is stellar, the storyline innovative and the ending puts everything into perspective. I will say that the dialogue was lacking to a certain degree, and the cliches were out in full force. But in terms of overall enjoyment, Little Birds is a perfect example of what independent films can become.
