I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Picture Day is a movie about a late teenager/ young adult who has failed grade twelve and is repeating it again. This movie is about conflict and resolution. In a way it is about an individual who is born without many chances. Her mother does not really seem to know that she exists and she does not have any real friends to support her. She does not have any hobbies to keep her going, nor any commitments. She is floating through life in a kind of a danger zone. Is this part of growing up? Or is it something deeper? Does she have traits of mental illness, or is this all a part of the trials and tribulations of growing up? Without loving parents to question these traits in their daughter - no one is to really know. Towards the end of the movie things kind of do seem to pan out a little bit - but there are clearly personal boundaries that have been crossed. This movie is somewhat like the Canadian movie Exotica by Atom Egoyan. Perhaps this movie, Picture Day is like a typical Canadian movie - whereby the Canadian identity is not rooted in a personal history but rather by external situations in life which seem to form the otherwise formless Canadian identity.

Now here's an insightful little teen film that gets the angst of coming- of-age without having to resort to the same old clichés. "Picture Day" from promising first-time filmmaker Kate Melville is a sensitive portrayal concerning a couple of teens going about the daily grind.The reckless, wannabe rebel Claire (Tatiana Maslany), forced to attend an extra year of high school, befriends the socially awkward Henry; a boy she used to babysit years earlier. Claire is unaware of their history at first, but Henry isn't, and in fact has never abandoned his long standing, secretly obsessive crush."Picture Day" is well written and unpredictable, but it is the terrific work of Maslany (a revelation on TV's "Orphan Black") that makes the film succeed. She's a quirky, natural performer and at 28 somehow plays a high schooler with utter conviction. Her character is flawed, brash, but realistically drawn and we root and sympathize with her. Melville rests a lot on Maslany's performance to great results. The plot goes some places that don't really work, and some scenes are in need of a good trimming, but this is never the less a rarity in the teen genre; one that favors character development, leisurely pacing, and no easy answers. This is smart, good-natured indie fare with a terrific performance at it's center. It's imperfect sure, but memorable and well worth seeking out.

Tatiana Maslany of 'Orphan Black' stars as Claire Paxton, a rebellious teen forced to repeat her senior year of high school. She is look down upon as a school outsider with a questionable reputation. She becomes a friend, mentor, and an object of desire to Henry who is also a quiet outsider she used to babysit as a child. On the other hand, she is sexually involved with Jim, the 30-something front man for the funk band, the ElastoCitizens.This is a coming of age story not just for Henry but also for Claire. They're both amazing in this great little indie movie, but Tatiana is the one that breaks out as a true movie star. She is both magnetic and vulnerable in this role.

This movie's great. The ending is a little abrupt, but there are so many good moments which are reminiscent of Freaks & Geeks, even better if only in the ability to capture teenage life/adolescence in all its awkwardness, relationship dynamics, etc. especially for those of us who didn't really "belong" or fit in re high school life. It's not something you often find in films these days. It's funny, touching even; there are some great moments in this. Music fits in perfectly with some scenes. The actress, Tatiana Maslany is incredible in this and really does make the movie. Truly a freaking impressive performance.