Ìý User Rating 
Contains strong language and drug use
Ready for the latest shot of twisted, darkly-imagined fantasy from celluloid legend Terry Gilliam? Adapted from the cult novel by Mitch Cullin, Tideland delves deep into the strange and whimsical inner world of nine-year-old Jeliza-Rose (Jodelle Ferland), a child left to fend for herself after the death of her white trash, heroin addicted father (Jeff Bridges). Granted, narrative pace is not a strong-point. But Gilliam has still produced a shocking, funny, and haunting study of loneliness and loss.
When her peroxide-blonde mother (a wonderfully psychotic Jennifer Tilly) has a heart attack, and her father takes a fatal overdose, Jeliza-Rose is left alone in a creaky house out on the deserted prairie. Living in a solitary fantasy world in which the heads of four dolls are her best friends, she soon meets Dickens (Brendon Fletcher), the mentally disabled young man who lives in the only other house nearby.
"CONTAINS SHINING, JEWEL-LIKE MOMENTS"
Audiences should expect, says Gilliam, "Alice in Wonderland meets Psycho". Childhood innocence and its inevitable corruption are major themes here, and scenes that imply a sexualised relationship between Dickens and Jeliza-Rose provoked a critical storm at Tideland's Toronto premiere. But there's much more to this film than shock tactics. Ferland's brilliant performance captures the wonder and terror of a child cut free from adult rule, and beautiful visuals underlie some moving moments, such as the scene where Jeliza-Rose is enchanted by fireflies. The only problem, really, is the plot; centring on the mystery identity of Dickens' elder sister Dell (Janet McTeer), it's threadbare at best, and makes for some slow viewing. Still, Tideland contains more shining, jewel-like moments than most films. It will reward your patience.
dazzling, valuable and hard enough to drill teeth with
