Rosie: The Devil In My Head (1998) - Steven Spielberg's new film, "A.I." deals with an android child programmed to love who longs for that love to be returned. Patrice Toye's debut film, "Rosie: The Devil In My Head" (1998) deals with the same subject except the child is real. "Rosie" succeeds where "A.I." disappoints. Rosie (Aranka Coppens) is a 13 year old girl who's mother, Irene (Sara de Roo) insists that Rosie say that she is her sister rather than her mother. Rosie is desperate for the unconditional love due a child from their parent. Told in flashback, after Rosie is sent to a reform school, "Rosie" paints a sad, poignant portrait of a lost child crying out for love and attention.

      Rosie is a lost young girl who reads romance novels. She doesn't know her father. She wants to call Irene 'mummy' rather than sister. She want Irene to not be ashamed of her. Rosie spends long hours atop a derrick where she imagines herself flying away from her troubles. Irene is an X-ray technician who gave birth to Rosie when she was only 14. Rather than deal with the ridicule that would be heaped on her for being a teenaged mother, Irene forces her daughter to lie about their relationship. Irene calls it "their secret." Rosie sees the deception as rejection. Rosie thinks her mother is ashamed of her.

Rosie (Aranka Coppens) and Irene (Sara de Roo), not your typical maother and daughter.

      Rosie searches for love wherever she can find it. She spies a young leather clad youth on a bus. The boy, Jimi (Joost Wijnant) becomes the object of Rosie's infatuation. She sees him as her hero, someone who will never deceive her. Life at home becomes more convoluted as Irene's 'brother' Michel (Frank Vercruyssen) comes to stay with them. It is obvious from the start that Irene's brother is Rosie's father. (I'm not spoiling the movie by revealing this as it is very plain to see.) Michel is a lout who sponges off of Irene. He is an inveterate gambler who lectures Rosie as a father would while not providing any guidance or love. Michel is given Rosie's room. Rosie bunks with her mother. Rosie asks her Mom what will happen when Irene brings a man home. Irene says she has sworn off men. Enter Bernard (Dirk Roofthooft). Another motherly lie. Bernard is a chemist who falls in love with Irene. He knows more than his lover reveals to him concerning the relationships afoot in the house. He is a decent man. If he has what it takes to help untangle the web of lies is another matter.

      The viewer begins to wonder just what Rosie did to end up in the reform school. I'll leave that for you to discover. The video box compares this film to the poetically twisted "Heavenly Creatures." I liked this movie much more than the other. "Rosie" is a truly haunting portrait of teenaged alienation.

Aranka Coppen delivers a complex performance as Rosie.

      The acting is uniformly fine. Ms. Coppens is a wonder in the title role. Rosie is a complex and disturbed character. There are many layers to her being. It is amazing that such a young actress could pull off such a multifaceted performance. Ms. de Roo is also fine as Irene. Irene is a woman with blinders. It is apparent to the viewer that she loves Rosie, but she is blind to the fact that Rosie doesn't realize this. Like all of the characters, she is a well developed and flawed character. Irene isn't to be vilified, though I wanted to scream at her through the screen to wake up before Rosie was lost forever. It is a credit to the writer, director and actors that such reaction from a viewer occurs. Mr. Vercruyssen is also excellent as the despicable Michael. Why do women let such men take advantage of them? "Rosie: The Devil In My Head" is a powerful story that captures one troubled youth's story perfectly. I'm glad I saw it. I recommend it highly. This film has won numerous awards at film festivals in Europe and America including many Best Film, Best Director and Best actress awards.

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Rusty White