Having grown up in isolation, Claudia finds herself alone and scared after her mother suddenly dies. By chance Grace stumbles into her home and her life, igniting a friendship and special bond in both of them. But as the girls become closer, so do the police, trying find out what happened to the reclusive author who used to live in the middle of nowhere. With the threat of Claudia’s discovery coming ever closer, the girls try to make plan but can they’re new found love survive this?
Each of the girls crave something and when they find each other, a piece of them is found. Claudia, having grown up with just her mother and dog, Tobey for company, companionship, you can understand that she’ll behave slightly strangely towards anyone. She is both in shock and a state of grief throughout the film which is only paused once she gets used to having Grace around. Grace has a difficult home life and seeks companionship. With a neglectful mother and the uncomfortable presence of her boyfriend, she has no desire to be at home. She also doesn’t seem to have any friends. The girls give each other what they need. They’re slow and gentle cautious romance feels inevitable from the moment they meet and it unfolds at a pace befitting their characters. Nothing is done in haste, including the unfolding of what happened to Claudia’s mother. The realisation of her suicide is revealed in hazy sun-soaked flashbacks but doesn’t give much away as why she planned it out in this way. More back story for Claudia and her mother would have been helped explain a few things, including their relationship but as the focus is the girls, its given to us as an afterthought.
The scenes where the girls are just enjoying summer, playing, decorating Claudia’s room, eating fruit in the garden are full of joy. Even the tentative moments, as they kiss for the first time are treated with such care. It’s as if the delicate nature of which we find Claudia is expressed throughout the film. A tender first love, over the long hot summer story that weaves in elements of the coming of age genre, bringing hope that this genre can still offer up surprises.