Title: God Help The Girl
Cast: Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, Hannah Murray, and Pierre Boulanger
Director: Stuart Murdoch
Let me get this out of the way, I’m a big Belle & Sebastian fan. In fact, the Scottish indie pop band is my all-time favorite band. Yes, while they’re music isn’t all too influential, Stuart Murdoch’s music affected my life in a big way, in terms of creativity, mood, and general outlook on life. I’ve been in love with almost everything Murdoch has released and was convinced that he has yet to write a bad song.
When his God Help the Girl side project released a soundtrack to a would be new movie back in 2009, I was more excited to hear the new songs than see a new movie. After all, Stuart Murdoch wasn’t a screenwriter or director in the traditional sense, but he has a clear and overall style to almost every facet of Belle & Sebastian. That sense of style definitely bled over to the “God Help The Girl” movie, which is delightful and at times haunting and dark.
The story of Eve (Emily Browning) battling through an eating disorder through music is a very rough and messy film strung together with brilliant musical sequences that made me smile to no end. That’s really the brightest spots of “God Help The Girl,” it’s music and the wonderful allure of the film’s three main characters, with Eve, James (Olly Alexander) and Cass (Hannah Murray). The trio embark on a journey of self-discovery while they put together a band in Glasgow, Scotland.
If you’re a Belle & Sebastian fan, you’re going to LOVE “God Help The Girl,” as it’s the full visualization of their music. There are even nods and references to past albums and cameo appearances from almost everyone in the very sprawling band. If you’re not a fan of their music, or unfamiliar with it, it’s unclear whether you’ll enjoy the movie or not. Like I said, it’s very messy and loose, in terms of story, but it’s characters are well defined, albeit rather simple. However, the film’s music is very infectious and you might leave the theater as a new fan of Belle & Sebastian and God Help The Girl.
Overall, “God Help The Girl” straddles that fine line between twee and obnoxious. It’s a fine balancing act that Stuart Murdoch pulls off, but it may put off a general audience. In terms of its direction, Murdoch has shown that he’s able to capture the same tone and feeling of his music and transfer that to the big screen. It’s actually quite impressive for a first time director to establish a clear sense of tone, mood, and place, and make it consistent throughout an entire film. While the story isn’t the strongest, it seems that it’s being told through the film’s lively characters and charming music.
Technical: B+
Story: B-
Acting: B
Overall: B
“God Help The Girl” opens in a limited release in New York City and LA on September 5 and wider on September 17.
