Lost and Delirious

A brief synopsis of Lost and Delirious suggests “The Rampage of the Cliché Monster”: a coming-of-age tale set in an all girls’ boarding school, the story follows new girl with a tragic past Mouse (a pre-OC Mischa Barton), whose realisation that rebel Paulie (Piper Perabo) is in love with the prettiest girl in school (Jessica Paré), awakens her own burgeoning womanhood and sexual identity. If you’re falling asleep reading this, it is perfectly understandable. Yet you’d miss out on something rather special. The film transcends its conventions for several reasons, not least because there is an authenticity not usually found in such material (it is, after all, based on Susan Swan’s semi-autobiographical novel). More importantly, however, it never condescends its characters or its audience, something most “teen” films are guilty of. Each character is given due respect, which makes the (admittedly melodramatic) conclusion all the more effective. Imagine a high school Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence, and you’re halfway there.