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Reviews
Low Self-Esteem Girl (2000)
"Maybe he LIKES being possessed by the devil!"
Blaine Thurier's uncanny take on modern young Christians as they mingle with Low Self Esteem Girl Lois (who can't decide between insincere guys who declare their love for her on the first "date" and Jesus) is tragic and hilarious. If you like the uncomfortable intimacy of Cassavetes' films, you'll appreciate the warmth of this film despite its (on the surface at least) cynical stance (think "Welcome to the Dollhouse"). A Vancouver comic book artist, Thurier based the film on his strip of the same name. Framing the amateur actors in harrowing clasps, Thurier's handheld camera boosts your sense of foreboding as the Christians become perversely focused on an exorcism for one of Lois' boyfriends. Eventually, the seemingly incapable, too-nice Lois chooses sides. Low Self Esteem Girl won Best Narrative Feature at the 2001 South by Southwest juried competition, and now there's talk of a Hollywood remake. Thurier is also a member of the band The New Pornographers, who won a Juno Award in 2001 for their album Mass Romantic.