September 8, 2006 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

9

MARL BRISKMAN

eveningsout

Babbit's second film is an engrossingly dark drama

by Anthony Glassman

Shaker Heights native Jamie Babbit is back with her second feature film, six years after the comedy But I'm a Cheerleader put her at the forefront of independent cinema.

However, her new film The Quiet is lightyears away from Cheerleader, despite also dealing with teens, cheerleaders, and having some humor.

It bears little resemblance to her directing work on the TV shows Popular or Gilmore Girls, although perhaps directing some episodes of Nip/Tuck informed her style on The Quiet.

The film revolves around Dot (Camilla Belle), a deaf and mute teenager who finds herself living with her godparents and their daughter after the sudden death of her father, who was also deaf.

Mr. and Mrs. Deer (Martin Donovan and Edie Falco) open their home and hearts to Dot, but popular cheerleader Nina Deer (Elisha Cuthbert) is not really happy to have someone living in her house who is so weird that even the freaks won't sit with her at lunch.

Nina is torn between memories of her friendship with Dot in early childhood, before the dark-haired girl lost her mother and her hearing, and her obeisance to being popular and hanging with the cool kids, including fellow cheerleader Michelle (Katy Mixon), who is evil incarnate.

A strange thing happens as Dot settles into the Deer home, however: People begin telling Dot their secrets, safe in the knowledge that, as long as she can't read their lips,

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she doesn't know what they're saying. At least, that's what Dot would like them to believe.

The Deer family, and those around them, have many secrets tearing at them-most centering around Mr. Deer's inappropriate relationship with his daughter. Much of Nina's behavior is in reaction to it, and Mrs. Deer's mad, passionate affair with Prince Valium more than likely stems from her attempts to avoid dealing with the situation.

As the pressure of all the secrets shatters her ability to just be alone, which is all she wants now that she has lost her father, Dot finds herself spurred to actions which bring the whole festering situation to a head.

Babbit's film is an odd, creepy, psychological morass that is so engrossing, it makes the La Brea tar pits seem like a dip in the pool.

There is always the sense that something is going on under the surface, and bit by bit that impression is proven correct. Abdi Nazemian and Micah Schraft put together a taut script, driving the characters inexorably to their own destruction or liberation.

The final element, of course, is the actors, and they are well-chosen. Newcomer Mixon is the archetypal evil, bitchy, snide, mean, cruel, self-serving, sex-obsessed cheerleader. She plays the role with a diabolical gleam in her eye that is absolutely breathtaking. The real challenge for her in the future will be to get cast as someone who is not a complete and utter bitch.

Cuthbert, who is surprisingly accomContinued on page 10

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Dot (Camilla Belle) asks Mrs. Deer (Edie Falco) to take her to a movie in The Quiet.

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