Lost and Delirious 2001

Mary, portrayed as a 14-year-old freshman, finds herself navigating the complexities of life at an all-girls boarding school nestled in the heart of rural Ontario. Assigned to a dorm with two seniors, the vivacious Paulie and local girl Victoria, Mary quickly becomes entwined in their lives. From the very first day, Paulie transforms a mundane afternoon into an exhilarating dance party, livening up the dreary environment by spiking the punch with liquor, setting a carefree tone that allows Mary to slowly shed her inherent shyness.

As the days unfold, Paulie and Tori seek to pull Mary out of her shell by engaging her in their morning jogging routines, even adopting the affectionate moniker “Mary Brave” after they learn of her mother’s recent passing. Their bond deepens, marked by a blend of humor and intimacy, which becomes evident when Paulie stands up for Tori against an uncaring math teacher. However, as Mary gazes from her window one night, she witnesses a shocking moment—a kiss shared between her two roommates on the roof, an indication of their increasingly intimate relationship.

Paulie’s larger-than-life spirit draws Mary in closer, yet it also ushers in complications. The trio’s dynamics evolve from innocent laughs to secret nighttime activities, with the line between friendship and romance blurring as the summer days slip away. One day, while jogging, they stumble upon an injured falcon that Paulie adopts, finding solace in training it while they also encounter boys from a nearby school, including Jake, who expresses interest in Tori. Tori’s flippant dismissal of Jake’s advances reveals her own struggles with her identity, as she clearly prefers not to be objectified.

Through her gradual friendship with Joe Menzies, the local groundskeeper, Mary reveals her own feelings of neglect after her mother’s death and her father’s indifference toward her. Joe’s sage advice encourages Mary to channel her emotions through hard work, adding a layer of grounding to her chaotic teenage existence.

Tensions rise when Victoria’s sister, Allison, inadvertently intrudes upon Paulie and Tori as they share a bed, sparking an alarming conversation that ventures into territory of suppressed emotions and familial loyalty. Tori’s decision to distance herself from Paulie to maintain her reputation leads her into a complex web of denial regarding her own identity while still grappling with her love for Paulie. The juxtaposition of Mary’s unfulfilled familial connections and Victoria’s oppressive family values heighten the stakes.

One fateful night, after a series of emotional confrontations and a reckless duel against Jake, Paulie spirals into a frantic state, propelled by unchecked emotions that culminate in tragedy. In a heart-wrenching scene, Paulie ascends a building while clutching her falcon, whispering the words, “I rush into the secret house,” reflecting a dark parallel to a Shakespearean tragedy. In a moment of desperation, she leaps to her death, releasing the falcon into the expansive sky—its flight mirroring the complexities of love, loss, and the pursuit of freedom.