Say a Little Prayer

Less audacious than Lowenstein's underrated Dogs in Space, this at first seems a rather tame tale of meeting-cute between a bored kid in his early teens - staying with a strict guardian for the summer holidays - and a spacy girl of around 20 who lives nearby. Gradually, however, it becomes noticeably tougher, as it fills in the reasons - without sermonising - for the girl's damaged innocence. But what finally impresses is the fluid elegance of the camera movements, the top-notch design, and the director's light touch with the boy's fantasy life, which even runs to a delicious interlude incorporating the Aretha Franklin classic of the title. Most engaging.