I don’t really know what to make of this film, honestly. I found myself absorbed in it, but I think I would be hard pressed to recommend it to the general viewer, or even explain WHY I was so absorbed. It feels like a documentary, but also like a scripted film. There are no “characters,” per se. All those in the film appear as themselves, but at the same time, they seem to behave so naturally, as though they aren’t even aware of the presence of the camera. If they’re acting, they’re as good as any actor out there. It gives the film this amazing ring of honesty and purity, with no intrusion by the director, which lately seems rare among documentaries.

The film is centered around Sara Carlson, a teenage girl who has been raised in a devoutly evangelical family, along with 11 siblings. She is home-schooled, and given education in religion that can only be called “fundamentalist.” She is told of the subservient role that women play in the family, stemming back to the story of Eve, created as a “helper” to Adam. She knows little more of the world than working on the goat farm and reading her Bible. But she is “at that age,” and like every other teenager, her eyes begin to wander. In this case, they wander towards a young amateur bull rider whom she meets when delivering milk to his family. I know that sounds like the beginning of a Nicholas Sparks novel, but the thing is, it’s not really a romance. In fact the romantic aspect of it is so subtle, as to be barely perceptible. It’s a lingering look or a long walk over to his place to bring her little brothers to try out the homemade mechanical bull. (There’s very little dialogue, as well, which contributes more to that “realism.”) No, this film is really about a young girl coming of age and trying to deal with the beginnings of doubt that she has about her world view, and what she’s been told about love, and God, and the interactions between men and women.

If you are a patient viewer, you may, like I did, find yourself caught up in Sara’s story. I was intrigued by her life and her family, and found several moving moments, especially between Sara and her mother, as her mother (I think) begins to suspect what’s going on in Sara’s head. It’s unlike any film I’ve seen in the way it’s presented; at least none come to mind at the moment.

One last thought: don’t be deterred by the religion in the film. Yes, it is a very old-fashioned view of religion, and yes, some of you may be offended by the things that Sara is learning. But because the film is presented so starkly, there’s no endorsement of any of those views. On the contrary, the tension in the film is a direct result of Sara herself questioning those same things. I was worried I might be put off by it, but it never became overly intrusive.

I want to recommend this film to you, but I don’t know how. It’s certainly going to be a “love it or hate it” film. I think those who are interested in giving yourself and your attention over to it are going to like it, or at least be intrigued by it. Those whose tastes run towards the more traditional, even among documentaries (which I’m still not sure this is!) might find better fare out there. All I can say is that if anything I’ve said piques your interest, do yourself a favor and watch this.

IMDB says 7.0, and I have no quarrel with that. (running time 1:38)