Zelly and Me (1988)

The only reason I wanted to watch this film was my knowledge of the fact that David Lynch acted in it but did not direct it. After viewing it, there is little else to offer up as encouragement to view the film.

As the press release goes: Writer/Director Tina Rathborne lived near Isabella Rosellini and slipped the script for "Zelly and Me," a quiet tale of a emotionally troubled young girl and her loving nanny, under her door. Rosellini, never known for her keen choice of roles, accepted the part of the nanny. Rathborne got funding and everything seemed in place. When trouble arose in casting  Zelly's (Rosellini's) boyfriend, she suggested her then- boyfriend in real life, Lynch. He got the part. 

And Lynch's part is not only secondary, it's derivative. We see the truth about his character (He is forced to deliver the hacknyed line: "I'm not what I seem") long before Zelly does so it is no surprise when the truth is sprung on us. In addition, Lynch is such an oddball type that he seems horribly miscast here. We never believe him and we never forget that it is Lynch up there.

Rosellini, as usual, is unintelligible 30% of the time. Her accent is so thick that you have to strain to understand her. Yet there is nothing interesting here to make us want to try. The story is so familiar and so typical that it soon wears thin. None of the other actors involved (Glynis Johns, Joe Morton) make us care either. Even young newcomer Alexandra Johnes (the "Me" in the title) seems uninterested and unbelievable.

If any credit can be given to this film it would be for it's unconventional ending. Unfortunately, by the time we get there we really don't care anymore. This may be an honest, realistic finish but it sure isn't  touching, poignant or interesting. The film also doesn't seem ham-handed in the depiction of the villain: Glynis Johns is realistic in her portrayal as the hard-nosed guardian of young Phoebe (Johnes). But, again, it's too minor to make us care about her or her motivation - which is also never really made clear.

There is a slightly underlying theme of lesbianism  between the nanny and her charge but it is never fully explored and this makes it appear to be disturbing. Rosellini and the young Johnes are shown sleeping in bed together several times and talk endlessly of their love for each other. Maybe some women can see some facets of reality in this aspect of the film but most of us will probably think it's just weird. 

"Zelly and Me" is a subdued film that wants us to really get emotionally involved and feel sorrow and sympathy for it's characters. But the film never gives us any reason to care or any developed characters to care about. The only good thing I can think to say about it is that it has a mercifully short (85 minute) running time.

Report Card

Script: D

Acting: D

Cinematography\Lighting: C-

Special Effects\Make Up: C

Music: C-

Final Grade: D