Broken Man and Lonely Girl Form an Unlikely Bond in ‘Lamb’

Sandra Miska

Two wounded souls go off together in “Lamb,” a drama based on the novel of the same name by Bonnie Nadzam. Ross Partridge, who also directed the film and wrote the adapted screenplay, plays David Lamb, a recently divorced 47-year-old man who has just buried his father when he is approached in a Chicago parking lot by Tommie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl who asks him for a cigarette on a dare from her burnout friends. In an attempt to teach her a lesson about strangers, he convinces her to get into his car and to her horror, drives away. Fortunately, he only drives her home. Sadly for Tommie, her home is a dingy apartment that she shares with her overworked mother (Lindsay Pulsipher) and her mother’s couch potato boyfriend (Scoot McNairy).

An unlikely friendship develops between Tommie and the man she knows as “Gary.” On leave from work, David decides to take a road trip to his family’s cabin in the Rockies. Knowing that she is being neglected by her parents, he invites Tommie to come along, promising to show her the beauty of the wilderness. She is hesitant but agrees to come after he assures her that he will take her home if at any point she decides she wants to leave.

David, who has been beaten down by life himself, seems pleased to have an adoring young girl hanging on to his every word. As a kid from a broken home, Tommie is susceptible to the older man’s flattery, which borders on manipulation.

Tommie is not the only female in David’s life whom he manipulates. He also has a younger girlfriend, his co-worker Linny (Jess Weixler). He strings her along, although it’s clear that he doesn’t want much more than a sexual relationship from her. He doesn’t even tell her about his divorce, perhaps fearing that she would want more of a commitment now that he is legally single.

Although Tommie and David sleep in separate beds when they stop at hotels to rest, more than a few awkward moments occur. Tommie has conflicting emotions.Occasionally, she expresses fear and wants to call her mom while at other times she wants David to see her as an equal and chastises him when he treats her otherwise. They both acknowledge the strangeness of their situation, and Tommie agrees to tell people that David is her dad if anyone asks.

Once they get to the cabin, things are pretty peaceful while both David and Tommie enjoy the great outdoors. Because the area is so desolate, the appearance of two strangers attracts the attention of grizzled neighbor Foster (Tom Bower), to whom David introduces Tommie as his niece. Foster questions David decision to bring a little girl to such a remote location where the nearest hospital is 70 miles away.

However, the real threat to David and Tommie’s tranquility isn’t Foster, but Linny, who arrives unexpectedly. David shoves Tommie into a back room while he decides his next move.

While the story is intriguing and Partridge and Laurence give strong, emotional performances, “Lamb” isn’t a film for everyone. Many will be disturbed by the relationship between Tommie and David, which although never becomes sexual, can be viewed as unhealthy. Others will enjoy this slow-burning drama that keeps the viewer hoping and fearing for Tommie while guessing about David, who is at times sympathetic and genuinely appears to believe that his taking a minor to the wilderness without her mother’s permission is an act of altruism.

“Lamb” opens Jan. 8 in select theaters.