Little Trouble Girls is a confident debut from Djukić, who captures so much life and perspective into a dreamy 90-minute film. Making it even more impressive are wonderful debut performances from Ostan and Svajger.
While what we see on the streets of Seattle is engrossing and, at times, even startling, the lack of a singular protagonist keeps us from becoming as emotionally invested in the ultimate outcome of the protests as we might.
Those who exist within the warm bubble of environmentalism will surely connect the dots between the tidbits the filmmakers present. But those who take the film’s paean to critical thinking at face value will be left disappointed, searching for answers.
There’s simply nothing of value here, not even the thrill of an adrenaline rush from a cheap jump scare. Any attempts at shock are hollow and laughable. The viewer is likely to leave the theater feeling similar to how Josh Hutcherson appears in this film, understandably checked out, vacant, and simply worn down.
The act of dreaming itself is what sustains us. Life is unpredictable, and dreams are sacred, which is why it’s nearly impossible not to find yourself rooting for someone as foolhardy as Marty Mauser, or for the beautifully unhinged vision of Josh Safdie.
Copti’s direction coaxes authentic performances from his cast of non-professional actors and the script explores challenging themes in a compellingly even-handed way.
